NSC holds a seminar on Thailand's attitude towards South China Sea situation

BANGKOK, 17 May 2013 (NNT) – The National Security Council (NSC) has organized a technical seminar on Thailand's stance and security towards the current situation in the South China Sea.

NSC Secretary General Lieutenant General Paradon Pattanatabutr presided over the opening of the seminar which is participated by experts in legal, international relations, and military fields.

The seminar is conducted over rising concern on the South China Sea territorial disputes among the countries sharing the region that may compromise Thailand's security.

Lieutenant General Paradon stated, Thailand as the coordinator between ASEAN and China, needs to develop knowledge and understanding about the issue in order to maintain good relations between China and ASEAN member countries involved in the problem.

He said balancing the power between ASEAN and China is the key to success in approaching with the matter. The NSC Secretary General admitted that the territorial dispute shows worse signs, thus it is crucial to prepare measures to contain the situation.

Lieutenant General Paradon said the NSC will later submit strategic plans compiled from the information gained from the seminar to the Prime Minister for consideration.


-- NNT 2013-05-17

Is this a fancy way of saying Thailand is trying to decide which side to back in the event things really hot up ? Like their support for foreign football teams etc. Thais always like to back the winners.

China, Asean, China, Asean,

Eenie, meenie, miny, mo......

Do we really give a crap about Asean? China has got so much more money to give us...

Decision made.

I think Thailand should just leave the room very quietly , One of the countries involved, might bring it to Thailand's attention about their failed efforts controlling the insurgents in the South.

Wow!! Such wording!!

China is claiming territorial rights to the South China Sea including but not limited to the fishing rights. This sea is used by a multitude of Asian countries.

But an ALLIGATOR bully called China claims it and intends to run Thailand and others out of those waters.

1. This is a big part of the reason the the US has moved most of its naval equipment into the area of Asia. The US has treaties to protect Thailand and Japan and S. Korea and Taiwan and Australia and NZ and others. The US is committed. The US has moved back into The Philippines into Clark and Subic, has restocked Guam and has subs and other ships in Asian waters. It has several Nimitz-class aircraft carrier groups in Asia which Subic can handle if needed.

2. "NSC Secretary General Lieutenant General Paradon Pattanatabutr presided over the opening of the seminar which is participated by experts in legal, international relations, and military fields.

The seminar is conducted over rising concern on the South China Sea territorial disputes among the countries sharing the region that may compromise Thailand's security."

Means "We're in deep doo doo with China. We want to play both sides of the fence with the US and China. We don't want to upset anyone.

What in the world can we do, do, do?"

The architects of the rice scheme will now bring you the China scheme.

They need a seminar to make apolicy decision?

I should imagine Thailand will follow the successful, self enriching Swiss model regarding what 'neutral' countries do when there is a crisis..... sit firmly on the fence and support both sides until a likely winner emerges.

Chavalit throughout his long career has developed a close relationship between Thailand and Beijing, to the point the Thai military has "bought" gift tanks from the CCP-PRC and has "acquired" most of its navy from Beijing, a collection of Chinese junk warships.

The direct consequence to Asean is that Thailand has been publicly quiet about Beijing's outrageous claims over the South China Sea while privately kissing Beijing's arse over the issue. Now that Chavalit is gray and fading from the scene, however, Beijing seems now not to have a great benefactor in Thailand, as no one except the weak and feeble Abhisit is trying to succeed Chavalit in kissing up to Beijing.

China claims the entire sea as far south as Brunei and Eastern Malaysia, which is an astoundingly belligerent claim, i.e., the claim goes thousands of km beyond any Exclusive Economic Zone of the CCP-PRC's Territorial Sea, while encroaching on the EEZ of several Asean countries, to include the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and now Thailand. Most of Japan's oil passes through the SCS, named by Western explorers for identification purposes only.

India, Japan and the United States now view the larger ocean area which is at stake in this heated dispute as the Indo-Pacific Ocean, with Singapore as a strong informal ally and the key point in the larger strategic picture.

The CCP-PRC in its brazen aggression wants to control the international sea lanes of the SCS. However, as the excellent, comprehensive article below points out, Beijing has as much right to claim the SCS as a "Chinese lake" as Mexico has to claim the entire Gulf of Mexico as its EEZ - which means no right at all under the UN International Treaty on the Law of the Sea. Beijing signed the treaty, attaching the written caveat that nothing in the treaty applies to Beijing if Beijing doesn't like it. Beijing likes to have its cake and eat it too.

Beijing has no respect of international law.

The Thai NSC seminar may suggest Thailand, as a formal U.S. Non-Nato treaty ally, is getting religion in this dispute. It may announce it too supports the formal U.S. ally the Philippines in Manila's decision last month to take the dispute to the UN under the provisions of the LOS treaty, which has Beijing hopping mad, as Beijing the bully wants to discuss the dispute with each Asean country only and exclusively bilaterally.

The South China Sea: China’s Flaccid Claim

For the past few years, china’s government has become increasingly belligerent in regards to the ocean waters to its South

http://www.kalanstar.com/blog/2012/06/25/the-south-china-sea-chinas-flaccid-claim/

They need a seminar to make apolicy decision?

I should imagine Thailand will follow the successful, self enriching Swiss model regarding what 'neutral' countries do when there is a crisis..... sit firmly on the fence and support both sides until a likely winner emerges.

You're probably right, but the US doesn't play that game. If a country allies itself with Russia or China, then it's stuck with them. Syria aligned with Russia and they are stuck with them. No way the US would help the Syrian government.

The US is intensely loyal. it would come to the aid of its friends in Germany or the UK or most of the Eurozone, Australia, much of the small Asian countries and so on in a heartbeat. And the linked author above is right. China doesn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell against the US navy and that includes the thousands of aircraft that would show up. Short of using nukes, China like Russia is a paper tiger.

If Thailand screws this one up they may wind up allied with China and still cut out of the S. China Sea for fishing while other countries are free to use it.

Seriously. The US still believes in friends and loyalty as a matter of honor, but it cuts two ways.

Excuse me was his name Lieutenant General Pardon ?

Hasn't Yingluck promised to tackle the conflict with "a woman's touch"?

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Wednesday her government will "make every effort to help build trust and
confidence" among parties in the South China Sea disputes. Shinawatra, speaking at Asia Society in New York, added that Thailand's role as
ASEAN coordinator for China issues gives it a unique role to play in the region — as does her gender.

"Perhaps I can bring a bit of a woman's touch to addressing this conflict,"

http://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/thai-prime-minister-womans-touch-needed-south-china-sea-dispute

Here's one approach to a solution.

After all, only 3100 km of the sea touch the shores of the PRC, while 130,00 km of the sea touches the shorelines of Asean nations.

Change the name "South China Sea" to "Southeast Asia Sea"

http://www.change.org/petitions/change-the-name-south-china-sea-to-southeast-asia-sea

Petitioning Presidents and Prime Ministers of 11 Countries of Southeast Asia

Further, This petition will be delivered to:

President, The United Nations Atlas of the Oceans

President, The United Nations

Canadian Geographic

President, National Hydrographic Office (India)

President, Canadian Royal Geographic

President, Japan Academic Societies Center

President, European Geographic Society

President, Korean Geographical Society

President, Geographical Society (France)

President, Russian Geographical Society

President, Royal Geographical Society (UK)

President and Officers, National Geographic Society

CEO and President, Google Inc.

CEO and Executive Chairman German Geographic

President, Australian Geographic

Chairman and President, Secretary General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan

to words. BOHICA and then TARFU

Hasn't Yingluck promised to tackle the conflict with "a woman's touch"?

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Wednesday her government will "make every effort to help build trust and

confidence" among parties in the South China Sea disputes. Shinawatra, speaking at Asia Society in New York, added that Thailand's role as

ASEAN coordinator for China issues gives it a unique role to play in the region — as does her gender.

"Perhaps I can bring a bit of a woman's touch to addressing this conflict,"

http://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/thai-prime-minister-womans-touch-needed-south-china-sea-dispute

That's what Margaret Thatcher used to say when playing the gender card!

While Thailand muddles its way around not siding with Beijing, avoiding the United States, and ignoring the Philippines going to the UN International Treaty of the Law of the Sea, we need to look at the big player in the game, the real and actual counterweight to the CCP-PRC in its claim that the South China Sea is a "core interest" of Beijing which means it asserts complete and absolute sovereignty over the SCS.

America and the South China Sea Challenge

America must make hard choices and put forth the effort necessary to ensure that the S. China Sea remains peaceful in 2013 and beyond

http://thediplomat.com/2013/05/03/america-and-the-south-china-sea-challenge/

So now we see that the USS Nimitz (and of course the carrier group) will be visiting Phuket. I take that as a show of solidarity to the Chinese. The carrier group has been off the coast of Korea until the fat kid stopped his threats. Now it is visiting The Philippines and Thailand.

Dang, if anyone has the chance to see that thing it's unreal. Huge. More firepower and technology than we can imagine. Nuclear powered and can run for almost 25 years without refueling. One was open to the public in San Diego several years ago and I got on it, but wasn't allowed to see that much. Just walking up to it was overwhelming. It's 18 stories tall.

So now we see that the USS Nimitz (and of course the carrier group) will be visiting Phuket. I take that as a show of solidarity to the Chinese. The carrier group has been off the coast of Korea until the fat kid stopped his threats. Now it is visiting The Philippines and Thailand.

Dang, if anyone has the chance to see that thing it's unreal. Huge. More firepower and technology than we can imagine. Nuclear powered and can run for almost 25 years without refueling. One was open to the public in San Diego several years ago and I got on it, but wasn't allowed to see that much. Just walking up to it was overwhelming. It's 18 stories tall.

Yeah, those things are awesome, breathtaking. It takes a lot more to design, construct and operate one of those sea buggies than China could ever imagine of its Great Wall. Of course, now we refer to the Great Firewall of the CCP-PRC, i.e., censorship of the internet.

I have a sense this NSC meeting means the U.S. has prevailed over Beijing to get Thailand off the dime to support the Phils in their turning to the UN Law of the Sea Treaty in Manila's disputes with Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. The Thai minister of defence and the head of the army were recently in Beijing for meetings, giving the impression I'm sure that the Boyz in Beijing are just the greatest guys who always can count on Thailand. Meaning Thailand is about to stick it to Beijing on the Phils issue, which has Beijing hopping mad since the Phils took the action last month. International law?! That's not even in the vocabulary of the Boyz.

Hmmm, the Chinese-Thai citizens that control the majority of Thailand ,versus some Thai fishermen and their families .

China is the new expansionist nation, the europeans had their century of conquests, now the big reds turn.

So now we see that the USS Nimitz (and of course the carrier group) will be visiting Phuket. I take that as a show of solidarity to the Chinese. The carrier group has been off the coast of Korea until the fat kid stopped his threats. Now it is visiting The Philippines and Thailand.

Dang, if anyone has the chance to see that thing it's unreal. Huge. More firepower and technology than we can imagine. Nuclear powered and can run for almost 25 years without refueling. One was open to the public in San Diego several years ago and I got on it, but wasn't allowed to see that much. Just walking up to it was overwhelming. It's 18 stories tall.

Yeah, those things are awesome, breathtaking. It takes a lot more to design, construct and operate one of those sea buggies than China could ever imagine of its Great Wall. Of course, now we refer to the Great Firewall of the CCP-PRC, i.e., censorship of the internet.

I have a sense this NSC meeting means the U.S. has prevailed over Beijing to get Thailand off the dime to support the Phils in their turning to the UN Law of the Sea Treaty in Manila's disputes with Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. The Thai minister of defence and the head of the army were recently in Beijing for meetings, giving the impression I'm sure that the Boyz in Beijing are just the greatest guys who always can count on Thailand. Meaning Thailand is about to stick it to Beijing on the Phils issue, which has Beijing hopping mad since the Phils took the action last month. International law?! That's not even in the vocabulary of the Boyz.

Oh, I hope you're right. I can't figure out how Thailand could cut any kind of deal with China which would risk running their fishing out of that entire sea.

Thailand just has to see that it's almost everyone being run out, and that the only hope is that the US has treaties to defend all of them, and will and is keeping that commitment.

Hmmm, the Chinese-Thai citizens that control the majority of Thailand ,versus some Thai fishermen and their families .

China is the new expansionist nation, the europeans had their century of conquests, now the big reds turn.

"China is the new expansionist nation, the europeans had their century of conquests, now the big little dick's reds turn."

Without using nukes, China ain't shirt. They don't have a decent ship or airplane or bomb. Thailand bought some military hardware from them and had to scrap it.

China will back down.

So now we see that the USS Nimitz (and of course the carrier group) will be visiting Phuket. I take that as a show of solidarity to the Chinese. The carrier group has been off the coast of Korea until the fat kid stopped his threats. Now it is visiting The Philippines and Thailand.

Dang, if anyone has the chance to see that thing it's unreal. Huge. More firepower and technology than we can imagine. Nuclear powered and can run for almost 25 years without refueling. One was open to the public in San Diego several years ago and I got on it, but wasn't allowed to see that much. Just walking up to it was overwhelming. It's 18 stories tall.

As mentioned previously, I was an Lt in the navy (submarines but spent 90% of my time in Brussels at NATO) and had occasion to see these behemoths up close . . . they are indeed breathtakingly striking . . . and one of my least favorite, but most apt, words comes to mind: awesome.

Comparing the European expansion during colonialism isn't quite apt because Europeans (and the US) looked far afield, where China is expanding - or wants to expand - from its borders.

Can they do it? Who knows how brazen a country is that doesn't have to bow to the will of the people - mind you the US population doesn't have anything to say in this regard either apart from voting out the party in question).

The fact that many people of Chinese ancestry inhabit ASEAN countries mean nothing at all, in terms of support for the PRC - it's quite the opposite actually

I suppose when China starts claiming islands in the Gulf of Thailand ,is when Thailand will take a stance. In the meantime I am sure they are counting their lucky stars they do not share a border with China,nor have to fight over islands....

Sing_Sing said today: "The fact that many people of Chinese ancestry inhabit ASEAN countries mean nothing at all, in terms of support for the PRC - it's quite the opposite actually".

Indeed, Thais throughout SE Asia identify as Sino-Thais, Sino-Burmese etc. It is one of the great delusions of Beijing and the PRChinese sheeple, propagandized by Beijing, that the Chinese diaspora are loyal Chinese because they are, well, Chinese. Beijing likes to call the Chinese diaspora "Overseas Chinese."

I kept saying to the PRChinese on the mainland that in the U.S. we have Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Fillipino-Americans etc, and that the operative word and loyalty is "American." Likewise for Sino-Thais, Sino-Cambodians, Sino-Indonesian etc. But I'm not Beijing speaking to the Chinese sheeple, so my statements go in one ear and out the other.

I've had extensive and frequent discussions with educated Sino-Thais here in Thailand who are indeed Thais, not Chinese. However, they want and need to believe the PRChina will soon morph into a democracy, which is the major (and really serious) flaw in their thinking and belief.

Meanwhile, for whatever period of time 'meanwhile' may be, The Sino-Thais don't want CCP influence or control in Thailand. They know the CCP and its PRC are a censoring, punishing dictatorship and want nothing to do with that, they want none of those influences in Thailand - at least not directly from Beijing (Thaksin with some Sino-Thais may be another matter).

Indeed, back when Chen Shui Bian the independence party candidate won the Taiwan presidency in 2000, Beijing was shocked that, after all the shouting and hollering it did at the voters of Taiwan to reject Chen, he won the election. Beijing couldn't believe the "overseas Chinese" of Taiwan could even imagine defying Beijing. The disloyalty! The disconnect! The shock to the CCP and the PRChinese sheeple!

The CCP lives in its own combination dream world of being both the CCP and of being Chinese per se, a fantasy world that is wholly disconnected from the world outside the mainland. Ideology is a brain disease and being Chinese is a state of fantasy, both conditions being hopeless. And dangerous.