High-Profile Visits Create Opportunity For Thai Diplomacy

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

High-profile visits create opportunity for Thai diplomacy

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The govt must take advantage of visits by the US and Chinese leaders to state the country's position and assist in regional cooperation efforts

Fresh from the visit of US President Barack Obama, Thailand is set to host Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this week. Although president Obama's visit took much of the attention of the press, the Chinese leader's visit is no less significant. The visit is very important in the relationship between the two countries, which will become increasingly sophisticated along as China continues to rise economically and politically.

The visit of the Chinese leader reflects Beijing's strong interest in Thailand and Asean. The advent of the Asean Economic Community (AEC), set to come into effect in 2015, has enhanced the region's status, and the economic and strategic partnership with Beijing. Although Wen Jiabao is set to step down soon, a visit by the supreme Chinese leader represents a determined effort by the Chinese government to forge closer ties with countries in the region.

Wen Jiabao's visit comes amidst Washington's stated desire to increase its profile in the region. The US has already announced plans to reinforce its military presence in the region. In fact, the US already has a strong military presence in the Asia-Pacific regions, with tens of thousands of troops based in Japan, South Korea and Pacific islands. Economically, Washington intends to boost Asian ties via the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The opening up of Myanmar also makes the region more appealing, and Southeast Asia is set to be high on the agenda in Obama's second term.

The visit of the leaders of two superpowers in the same week marks their significant interest in Thailand and the region. Thailand thus has to articulate the relationship it wants with the two powers, as both will continue to have a big presence here.

Thailand's relationship with China has been a long one, going backeven before official diplomatic ties between the two countries. Thailand has a large overseas Chinese community. Chinese heritage is in evidence almost everywhere, not only in Bangkok's China Town, which is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. China and Thailand are also engaged in military cooperation. The overall relationship is peaceful and stable.

Asia is expected to be the main driver of global economic growth in the near future, yet Thailand and China both face challenges. The worsening income gap between the haves and have-nots is one major issue that must be addressed, as is the promotion of transparency in governance.

Economically, Chinese businesses have increased their presence here. Further Chinese investment is set to flow into the country. Beijing is interested in participating in high-speed rail projects that the government plans to construct. But these projects are yet to be finalised, and it remains unclear how much of the infrastructure the Thai government will allocate to foreign investors. Water resource management is also of strong interest to China, as well as other foreign investors. The Thai government therefore has to make decisions based on the interest of the public, by choosing the right partners who have the best expertise, and on fair terms for the benefit of consumers.

Lot of attention has been paid to China's role in the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. There is concern over rising nationalism in East Asia, which could lead to a worsening of these disputes. Bangkok, as a member of Asean, should urge China to engage in constructive talks to resolve these disputes at the regional level. Otherwise, tensions could destabilise the peaceful sentiment in the region as a whole.

The outgoing Wen may not be able to commit to anything major during this trip because it will be up to China's new leader to take longer-term decisions. But he will certainly receive a goodwill message from Thailand and a reaffirmation of friendship.

Thailand and China's relationship will be tested by changing circumstances, such as the shift by the US towards Asia, more intense cooperation among Asean countries, and the expected continuation of territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East Asia among Thailand's regional partners. Some issues can be resolved in regional forums because bilateral talks may not create a conducive environment in which to bridge differences. All sides will thus have to show sincerity in making relationships constructive.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 20

[asiawatcher]

Income gap and transparency of government will be two issues this government will avoid completely. Forget 'democracy'. It has nothing to do with the dissent between the haves and the have nots. This factor seems to be driving the political agenda of Thailand, on the one had with the Thai Govt coming up with policies supposedly to assist the low end (their voting target) with disastrous results, and on the other had, stealing as much as they can whilst in power from funds collected from the other end of the scale. I am sure Barry and Wen would be well aware of [it] and their personal visits are not the people who will eventually make decisions. Foreign & Trade Ministers do these deals, not presidents or leaders. This is just a (boring) PR exercise.

[NCFC]

Income gap and transparency of government will be two issues this government will avoid completely. Forget 'democracy'. It has nothing to do with the dissent between the haves and the have nots. This factor seems to be driving the political agenda of Thailand, on the one had with the Thai Govt coming up with policies supposedly to assist the low end (their voting target) with disastrous results, and on the other had, stealing as much as they can whilst in power from funds collected from the other end of the scale. I am sure Barry and Wen would be well aware of [it] and their personal visits are not the people who will eventually make decisions. Foreign & Trade Ministers do these deals, not presidents or leaders. This is just a (boring) PR exercise.

Obama and Wen are probably well aware that Thailand has seen a rise in per capita GDP of just $320 in 1960 to almost $2700 by 2011. They may also be aware that the Thailand Development Research Institute studies show that:

"the country's highest-earning group is benefiting from increased interconnectedness in the world via technology, while the poorest group had seen their income rise quickly in".

The pinch has actually occurred within Thailand's middle-classes:

"Lower middle-income earners haven't been able to catch up with the rich and are being squeezed by the lower-income group"

Lower income groups are benefiting from both Government policies and the booming Thai economy which is lifting more and more people out of the poverty zone.

I don't see the visits of the two leaders of the two major world powers within a space of a few days as boring at all. I think it shows that under the Yingluck administration, Thailand is seen as a major regional player by those that matter