Obama's Thailand Visit Also Reveals Importance Of Bangkok's China Ties

[webfact]

Obama's Thailand Visit Also Reveals Importance of Bangkok's China Ties

By James Hookway and Enda Curran

BANGKOK — U.S. President Barack Obama‘s visit to Thailand was Sunday’s news in Bangkok, but another top leader is making his way to the Southeast Asian country in the next few days: China’s Premier Wen Jiabao.

Mr. Wen arrives on Tuesday as part of a quick tour around the region marking his departure from office following a generational reshuffle in the ruling Communist Party in Beijing. His first stop is the annual ASEAN summitry in Cambodia, which culminates on Tuesday morning.

As soon as Mr. Wen is done there, though, he travels straight to Thailand, marking the importance with which Beijing views its links with Bangkok, one of the most strategic countries in Southeast Asia.

Despite being named as a major non-NATO ally by former President George W. Bush in 2003, Thailand also has an unusually strong relationship with China. Thai firms such as agribusiness conglomerate CP Group were among the first foreign investors into China when it began opening up in the 1980s. [more...]

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com...oks-china-ties/

-- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 2012-11-19

[Om85]

Thais have been very clever, and I think they are doing well, you should never put all your eggs in one basket, both China and US are very important allies and Thais should always keep the balance.

[asiawatcher]

I think Thailand is smart enough to align itself with both but as the Chins populated Thailand centuries ago and they formed part of Thai culture and history, Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

[keemapoot]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

Edited November 19, 2012 by keemapoot

[rfukata]

I think the business climate btw China & Thailand are much simpler than of US or Europe.

i.e. who cares if the money is laundered..who cares if you use fake software..who cares if you pay under the table..

the list goes on.

[Samuimike1]

China knows, what the US Gov. are up to, Syria, Mali, Iran, Russia and China.

[edwinchester]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

Angrit

[farang000999]

lol

Edited November 19, 2012 by farang000999

[metisdead]

Posts containing copyrighted AP photos have been removed.

[theslime]

More highways to Sth Sth/west China, good for access to them thare parts.

[HappyWanderer]

I think Thailand is smart enough to align itself with both but as the Chins populated Thailand centuries ago and they formed part of Thai culture and history, Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

Not disagreeing with you about your facts here but I think it's important that not many Thais can speak Chinese. It's not the norm. But it is common for Thai to speak a tiny bit of English at least, many even speak English fairly well and some Excellent.

This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand.

[squarethecircle]

Just from encounters with various people in various parts of the country (and neighboring Burma), people's attitudes about China/the Chinese are mostly negative, since they have a reputation for slippery business and only taking from local resources, not enriching the local economy (such as multi-million dollar natural resource projects in relatively poor areas of Laos and Burma - the local population doesn't realize benefit). Of course Thai-Chinese don't feel this way. On the other hand I find people here (and Indians as well) have the most positive view of the US anywhere I've been, since they associate the US with "human rights", stopping the Nipponese expansion during WWII, and being respectful (whereas many Europeans such as Britons act like the entire world is their colony).

I do recall reading that most Thai students would rather study Chinese than English, but this makes sense as most American students would rather study Spanish or French than Thai or Chinese due to similarity of languages.

[Thai at Heart]

I think Thailand is smart enough to align itself with both but as the Chins populated Thailand centuries ago and they formed part of Thai culture and history, Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

Not disagreeing with you about your facts here but I think it's important that not many Thais can speak Chinese. It's not the norm. But it is common for Thai to speak a tiny bit of English at least, many even speak English fairly well and some Excellent.

This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand.

You are grossly underestimating how heavily Thai companies have invested in China. Go to china and ask about chia thai, no one even has a clue it's a Thai company.

But yes, obviously, Chinese business doesn't appear to have that much of a foothold in Thailand yet. That's because they resent giving away 51% of it as much as any other.

[HappyWanderer]

I think Thailand is smart enough to align itself with both but as the Chins populated Thailand centuries ago and they formed part of Thai culture and history, Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

Not disagreeing with you about your facts here but I think it's important that not many Thais can speak Chinese. It's not the norm. But it is common for Thai to speak a tiny bit of English at least, many even speak English fairly well and some Excellent.

This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand.

You are grossly underestimating how heavily Thai companies have invested in China. Go to china and ask about chia thai, no one even has a clue it's a Thai company.

But yes, obviously, Chinese business doesn't appear to have that much of a foothold in Thailand yet. That's because they resent giving away 51% of it as much as any other.

My last sentence should have a little extra added to make it more clear. It should read "This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand ... as the western world is"

Also ... "Go to China" you say ... No thanks. I'll let you do that. I'd rather stay here in Thailand and be ignorant about the Chinese

Ignorance is bliss

Edited November 19, 2012 by HappyWanderer

[Neeranam]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

What's this got to do with anything?

What's an average 20 yr old Thai female?

I'd say it would be a very close choice. So many variables though. Often a dark-skinned Thai wouldn't be asked to marry a Chinese.

If the American was colored, then it would definitely the Chinese man.

[HappyWanderer]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

What's this got to do with anything?

What's an average 20 yr old Thai female?

I'd say it would be a very close choice. So many variables though. Often a dark-skinned Thai wouldn't be asked to marry a Chinese.

If the American was colored, then it would definitely the Chinese man.

It's not racialist to say "Black man". It's ok.

"colored" sounds like they have rainbow skin or some bright green or red lol

[Thai at Heart]

I think Thailand is smart enough to align itself with both but as the Chins populated Thailand centuries ago and they formed part of Thai culture and history, Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

Not disagreeing with you about your facts here but I think it's important that not many Thais can speak Chinese. It's not the norm. But it is common for Thai to speak a tiny bit of English at least, many even speak English fairly well and some Excellent.

This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand.

You are grossly underestimating how heavily Thai companies have invested in China. Go to china and ask about chia thai, no one even has a clue it's a Thai company.

But yes, obviously, Chinese business doesn't appear to have that much of a foothold in Thailand yet. That's because they resent giving away 51% of it as much as any other.

My last sentence should have a little extra added to make it more clear. It should read "This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand ... as the western world is"

Also ... "Go to China" you say ... No thanks. I'll let you do that. I'd rather stay here in Thailand and be ignorant about the Chinese

Ignorance is bliss

Well I've been there probably 100 times, and when you see the owner of CP sitting with the Chinese premier, representing SE Asian Chinese business groups, you learn a bit.

CP is an enormous investor in China, from agribusiness, to motorcycles, to property, to retail. there is lotus supermarkets, just as in Tesco lotus, and on their website they claim to be the first and largest foreign investor in china.

They have animal feed, seeds, chicken, eggs, pork, seafood production nationwide in China. They are a behomoth in the Chinese food market.

[jcw]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

Well that depends which bar she works in doesn't it ?

[jcw]

I am happy that Obama's visit to the land of scams was event free and no scandals and stuff. About time the Thai authorities did something right with out putting their foot in it

[HappyWanderer]

You are grossly underestimating how heavily Thai companies have invested in China. Go to china and ask about chia thai, no one even has a clue it's a Thai company.

But yes, obviously, Chinese business doesn't appear to have that much of a foothold in Thailand yet. That's because they resent giving away 51% of it as much as any other.

My last sentence should have a little extra added to make it more clear. It should read "This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand ... as the western world is"

Also ... "Go to China" you say ... No thanks. I'll let you do that. I'd rather stay here in Thailand and be ignorant about the Chinese

Ignorance is bliss

Well I've been there probably 100 times, and when you see the owner of CP sitting with the Chinese premier, representing SE Asian Chinese business groups, you learn a bit.

CP is an enormous investor in China, from agribusiness, to motorcycles, to property, to retail. there is lotus supermarkets, just as in Tesco lotus, and on their website they claim to be the first and largest foreign investor in china.

They have animal feed, seeds, chicken, eggs, pork, seafood production nationwide in China. They are a behomoth in the Chinese food market.

I refer you to my previous reply

Edited November 19, 2012 by HappyWanderer

[Semper]

Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

What else could one expect, as Thailand is more or less owned by the Chinese.

[Thai at Heart]

You are grossly underestimating how heavily Thai companies have invested in China. Go to china and ask about chia thai, no one even has a clue it's a Thai company.

But yes, obviously, Chinese business doesn't appear to have that much of a foothold in Thailand yet. That's because they resent giving away 51% of it as much as any other.

My last sentence should have a little extra added to make it more clear. It should read "This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand ... as the western world is"

Also ... "Go to China" you say ... No thanks. I'll let you do that. I'd rather stay here in Thailand and be ignorant about the Chinese

Ignorance is bliss

Well I've been there probably 100 times, and when you see the owner of CP sitting with the Chinese premier, representing SE Asian Chinese business groups, you learn a bit.

CP is an enormous investor in China, from agribusiness, to motorcycles, to property, to retail. there is lotus supermarkets, just as in Tesco lotus, and on their website they claim to be the first and largest foreign investor in china.

They have animal feed, seeds, chicken, eggs, pork, seafood production nationwide in China. They are a behomoth in the Chinese food market.

I refer you to my previous reply

But, CP sits in glorious protection in Thailand, because foreign businesses cannot directly enter agriculture.

CP IS agribusiness is south east Asia and China, so when the Wenjibao comes to discuss rice, I am sure he has been more than adequately briefed by CP about how it should be.....

Of course the average Thai farmer would love to have the option to sell directly to foreign Millers and traders, but that would be against the national interest of course.

Ignorance can be bliss, but when people are willing to kill over such issues, it's useful to know why....

Edited November 19, 2012 by Thai at Heart

[Publicus]

Since 1990 CP Group has been operating 7-Eleven stores in Thailand and is now the franchisee of the 7-Eleven Corp of the United States in Dallas, Texas, for Thailand, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. CP All is the division of the CP Group that operates all of CP's 7-11 franchise stores. While CP All is aiming for 10,000 stores in Thailand - from its present nearly 7000, it however faces stiff competition in the PRChina. Beijing several years ago licensed Seven & I Holdings, owned by Ito Yokado of Tokyo who already is owner of the 14,000 7-Eleven franchise stores in Japan to operate in the PRChina. Further complicating matters for everyone, President Chain Store Corp of Taiwan was awarded a licese to operate on Mainland China. So Beijing has divided the three different license holders, each from a different country, into territories for chain-licensing management.

Since the PRChina market is so huge - no one knows what number of 7-Eleven stores would saturate the mainland market - the market has been split up into three territories among the three operators. Beijing is handled by Japan, Guangdong by Hong Kong (CP)and Shanghai by Taiwan. (Guangdong province is adjacent to Hong Kong.)

So it remains to be seen where CP of Thailand may fit into all of this. While I lived and worked in Guangdong province I did shop regularly (for one year) at the nearby CP Lotus supermarket which anchored a small mall. CP Lotus in China had the usual Western foods excepting beef which always was in very short supply, offering the more expensive lamb instead. On Thai national holidays the CP Lotus markets in Guangdong province displayed the Thai flag alongside the PRChina flag - having already spent ten years in Thailand before relocating to the PRC, I took special and fond notice of the fact.

And, yes, along the wall of the escalator inside the CP Lotus stores are large color photos of the Thai head of CP Group with the provincial CCP secretary, the governor, the PM in Beijing and the prez (Hu Jintao). The outgoing PM Wen Jaibao will be here in Thailand in a day or so, but I wouldn't expect anything big from him about CP in the PRC. While the 7-11 stores of the Taiwan franchise owner President Chain Store Plc and the Japanese get prominently located - there's one next to the Immi Office in Guangzhou - the 7-Eleven stores of CP All are often the last shop down some very short and little used side street.

Naturally the 7-Eleven store next to the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau (Immigration) is packed with customers. The Chinese take a two and a half hour lunch (and nap), so business is good. Meanwhile, because nearly all of CP All's stores are located at the end of a nowhere soi, they are very convient (and quiet)as I and sometimes a friend were usually the only customers in the place.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Publicus

[Thai at Heart]

Since 1990 CP Group has been operating 7-Eleven stores in Thailand and is now the franchisee of the 7-Eleven Corp of the United States in Dallas, Texas, for Thailand, Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. CP All is the division of the CP Group that operates all of CP's 7-11 franchise stores. While CP All is aiming for 10,000 stores in Thailand - from its present nearly 7000, it however faces stiff competition in the PRChina. Beijing has already licensed Ito Yokado of Tokyo, who is owner of the 14,000 7-Eleven franchise stores in Japan, and who has been operating in the PRChina for several years. Complicating matters for everyone, President Chain Store Corp of Taiwan was awarded a licese to operate on Mainland China. So Beijing has divided the three different license holders, each from a different country, into territories for chain-licensing management.

Since the PRChina market is so huge - no one knows what number of 7-Eleven stores would saturate all of the PRC - the market has been split up into three territories with among the three operators. Beijing is handled by Japan, Guangdong by Hong Kong and Shanghai by Taiwan. (Guangdong province is adjacent to Hong Kong.)

So it remains to be seen quite where CP of Thailand may fit into all of this. While I lived and worked in Guangdong province I did shop regularly (for one year) at the nearby CP Lotus supermarket which anchored a small mall. CP Lotus in China had the usual Western foods excepting beef which always was in very short supply, offering the more expensive lamb instead. On Thai national holidays the CP Lotus markets in Guangdong province displayed the Thai flag alongside the PRChina flag. And, yes, along the wall of the escalator inside the CP Lotus stores are large color photos of the Thai head of CP Group with the provincial CCP secretary, the governor, the PM in Beijing and the prez (Hu Jintao). The outgoing PM Wen Jaibao will be here in Thailand in a day or so, but I wouldn't expect anything big from him about CP in the PRC. While the 7-11 stores of the Taiwan franchise owner President Chain Store Plc are prominently displayed - there's one next to the Immi Office in Guangzhou - the 7-Eleven stores of CP All are often the last shop down some very short and little used side street.

Naturally the 7-Eleven store next to the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau (Immigration) is packed with customers. Meanwhile because nearly all of CP All's stores are located at the end of a nowhere soi, they are very convient (and quiet)as I sometimes a friend were usually the only customers in the place.

In the grand scheme of CP, 7~11, us just a tiny bit. They are the only true Thai multinational.

[theslime]

I think Thailand is smart enough to align itself with both but as the Chins populated Thailand centuries ago and they formed part of Thai culture and history, Thailand will remain firmly favouring China.

Not disagreeing with you about your facts here but I think it's important that not many Thais can speak Chinese. It's not the norm. But it is common for Thai to speak a tiny bit of English at least, many even speak English fairly well and some Excellent.

This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand.

You are grossly underestimating how heavily Thai companies have invested in China. Go to china and ask about chia thai, no one even has a clue it's a Thai company.

But yes, obviously, Chinese business doesn't appear to have that much of a foothold in Thailand yet. That's because they resent giving away 51% of it as much as any other.

My last sentence should have a little extra added to make it more clear. It should read "This shows that China isn't such a major influence on Thailand ... as the western world is"

Also ... "Go to China" you say ... No thanks. I'll let you do that. I'd rather stay here in Thailand and be ignorant about the Chinese

Ignorance is bliss

Ignorance is Bliss if you are an Ignoramus.

[Zatoichi]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

What's this got to do with anything?

What's an average 20 yr old Thai female?

I'd say it would be a very close choice. So many variables though. Often a dark-skinned Thai wouldn't be asked to marry a Chinese.

If the American was colored, then it would definitely the Chinese man.

It's not racialist to say "Black man". It's ok.

"colored" sounds like they have rainbow skin or some bright green or red lol

Tell me about it, I'm Black American, and my wife (Thai) is part Chinese. She was proposed to by a Chinese Thai guy and turned him down before she met me. How do you know what a Thai woman will definitely do? Hell what ANY woman would definitely do?

Silly bigotry really. Sounds like something out of the 50's or something.

[HappyWanderer]

Try this: ask the average 20 yr old Thai female whom she'd rather marry, and whose children she'd rather bear, a Chinese or an American. What do you think the answer would be?

What's this got to do with anything?

What's an average 20 yr old Thai female?

I'd say it would be a very close choice. So many variables though. Often a dark-skinned Thai wouldn't be asked to marry a Chinese.

If the American was colored, then it would definitely the Chinese man.

It's not racialist to say "Black man". It's ok.

"colored" sounds like they have rainbow skin or some bright green or red lol

Tell me about it, I'm Black American, and my wife (Thai) is part Chinese. She was proposed to by a Chinese Thai guy and turned him down before she met me. How do you know what a Thai woman will definitely do? Hell what ANY woman would definitely do?

Silly bigotry really. Sounds like something out of the 50's or something.

In Bangkok I see more and more Black and Thai couples all the time. Not just sex buddies but actual couples. My Black French/African frriend has made a street bar with his Thai woman. They are a proper item together.

I always have thought it was white people who have put down black skinned people but I was watching a movie about diamond smuggling in Africa and 3 black guys shouted and mocked at Leo Dicaprio "Look at the little pink chicken skin white boy!"

Now every time I see a white person I think of dead chickens hanging in supermarkets .... and I AM a white person !!!

Edited November 24, 2012 by HappyWanderer

[davehowden]

Well this black guy seems to be OK with the Chinese lady!