Thai FM Surapong: PM Yingluck's trips are not for fun

[webfact]

POLITICS
PM's trips are not for fun: Surapong
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
New York



Foreign minister defends 56 overseas tours, says she's welcomed warmly

BANGKOK: -- THE PRIME minister's trips abroad are not group tours for personal fun - they serve missions for national interest in accordance with the government's foreign policy platform, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchai-kul has said.

"It is me who plans, sets agendas and arranges trips for the prime minister with her close consultation," Surapong said, dismissing claims that Premier Yingluck Shinawatra makes foreign trips for personal interest and fun.

"Our prime minister is very charming. She [receives] a lot of invitations to visit foreign countries and receives a warm welcome everywhere."

Yingluck holds the record for making the most frequent foreign trips while in office. She has made 56 trips to 43 countries around the world over the past two years, since taking office in 2011.

"Well, that's less than me since I have already visited 51 countries to carry on my job and make arrangements for the prime minister," Surapong joked.

"Travelling a lot is no fun at all," he said. "Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

Surapong said the government's platform for foreign policy focused on relations facilitating economic activities with all countries for development.

"Our policy is clear. We are friends of all and foes of no country. We trade with everybody and we will invest everywhere," he said.

The government champions peace and stability, as such things are basic requirement for economic development, trade and investment, he said.

The prime minister's foreign visits were conducted according to a strategic plan. In her first year, Yingluck visited neighbouring countries in ASEAN and East Asia; China, Japan and South Korea. Later, she went to major powerhouses in and outside the region including India, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, he said.

Trips in the first year were mostly for introduction as the first elected female prime minister of Thailand, Surapong said.

Her foreign visits in the second year may have raised questions from those familiar with traditional foreign affairs, because Yingluck travelled to little known countries in Pacific islands, central Asia and Africa to seek economic cooperation and new markets for Thai products, he said.

The business community always accompanied her to seek business opportunities. "The prime minister and I had a business background before taking positions in the government, so we know how to do business with foreign countries to generate income for our nation," Surapong said.

The world economic landscape was changing due to the crisis in western countries. Everybody is looking for new economic frontiers for trade and investment. "There is no reason for this government to sit still at home waiting for customers to knock on the door or keep going only to old markets," he said.

Sometimes academics and researchers also accompanied the prime minister and business people to study innovation, research and development in foreign countries, he said.

Yingluck's third year will see her visit a superpower among the permanent five members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC), he said. She will visit Russia in December and is arranging time slots for an official visit to the US. She has already visited France, the United Kingdom and China.

Everything was planned in advance. President Barack Obama visited Thailand last year, now it is Yingluck's turn to visit Washington. The visit may coincide with Thailand's campaign to apply to be a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2017-2018 - but there was no intention to ask for direct support from the "big five", he said.

The idea to take a seat on the Security Council came from the Foreign Ministry long before this government, but Yingluck had put her full support into the campaign, said Surapong, who is in New York this week for the UN General Assembly.

Asked if the benefits of a foreign visit by this government could be quantified, Surapong said his government had signed 99 memorandums of understanding and agreements with foreign countries around the world so far. The previous government could make only 24, he said.

This is the first of a three-part series on the prime minister's travels.


-- The Nation 2013-09-30

[chooka]

Whilst she is carrying the whole burden on her shoulders building stronger ties and trying to sell all the rice, what are her Trade and Foreign Ministers doing? Tell them to get off their rear ends and start doing their jobs. Grow a pair and delegate woman, that is what leaders do. You don't have to do everything personally yourself unless you have a shopping order to collect in Paris or Washington.

Has the U.S given into your begging and invited you yet?

Edited September 29, 2013 by chooka

[NongKhaiKid]

This issue seems to be touching a raw nerve with more defence of the trips but this justification is jmore nonsense.

He says 99 memos of understanding have been signed which is all very well if something comes from them whereas the hard fact is that Thai exports this year have fallen.

YL is always on about exporting all aspects of Thainess but here we have an example of insulting various hosts since the poor lady has to pack instant food since " we cannot eat the local food ". Very diplomatic and ambassadorial.

[smoochy]

That is a lot of traveling on the people's dime (baht as it were). So, how is that situation in the South going? Or the flood prevention plans two years after hell broke loose? One would think that she had enough work to do at home that she may stay a few days and actually go to the office from time to time.

[jaltsc]

"The government champions peace and stability, as such things are basic requirement (sic) for economic development..."

Then, why doesn't she just set up office down south until she achieves this requirement in her own country before she travels overseas?

[lujanit]

Yingluck's philosophy "Nothing like a free lunch, I want me more"

[Yunla]

"Travelling a lot is no fun at all," he said. "

But its a lot more fun than attending parliament and "facing the music" on the floor of debate. Yingluck avoided Q&A pre-election as much as possible, and avoids open unscripted debates post-election, also as much as possible. As though she were ashamed of her party's policies or simply can not find a way to defend them robustly in direct debate with her fellow politicians. Being in foreign countries all the time, "in Thailand's interests", is a great way to avoid debating policies back home, and defending PTP actions which she does not know how to spin favourably.

Surapong stating that PM trips abroad are important for building bridges and fostering good relations (of all kinds) between nations, this is completely true of the occasional trip. The question is why this is done almost constantly on overdrive by Yingluck.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Yunla

[bigbamboo]

The thing that doesn't quite gel with KY is that whilst she is officially the Prime Minister AND the Defence Minister she actually seems to want to be the Foreign Minister.

[Tatsujin]

"Our policy is clear. We are friends of all and foes of no country. We trade with everybody and we will invest everywhere," he said.

Translation: we're happy to screw over everyone equally.

[Kerryd]

Well, if "the brother" can't come to Thailand then I guess it's up to Thailand (aka "the sister") to go to him. Gotta keep those diplomatic passports coming and scope out which countries may be "safe for convicted criminal" havens.

[NongKhaiKid]

Just a thought but when a country's leaders go on overseas trips it's usual for the hosts to throw an official dinner which normally features local specalities.

I wonder how YL and her entourage handle this, do they politely decline and ask that boiling water be poured on their instant noodles ?

Can you imagine the reaction here if someone from another country said this, and it was in any way thought to reflect their attitude to ' local ' food ?

[chooka]

Just a thought but when a country's leaders go on overseas trips it's usual for the hosts to throw an official dinner which normally features local specalities.

I wonder how YL and her entourage handle this, do they politely decline and ask that boiling water be poured on their instant noodles ?

Can you imagine the reaction here if someone from another country said this, and it was in any way thought to reflect their attitude to ' local ' food ?

It would probably be considered very disrespectful and like hitting Thailand in the face with a shovel. When you are invited to someone's home for dinner you bring a bottle wine and don't turn up with McDonalds. You compliment your host on the meal even if you didn't enjoy it. It is generally seen as showing respect and manners.

[Yunla]

Just a thought but when a country's leaders go on overseas trips it's usual for the hosts to throw an official dinner which normally features local specalities.

I wonder how YL and her entourage handle this, do they politely decline and ask that boiling water be poured on their instant noodles ?

Can you imagine the reaction here if someone from another country said this, and it was in any way thought to reflect their attitude to ' local ' food ?

It would probably be considered very disrespectful and like hitting Thailand in the face with a shovel. When you are invited to someone's home for dinner you bring a bottle wine and don't turn up with McDonalds. You compliment your host on the meal even if you didn't enjoy it. It is generally seen as showing respect and manners.

Its even worse when they announce it openly like Surapong did. If they just ate their packed lunches in secret and declined the offered food politely ("I don't feel well" etc.) it would be better than saying in public basically 'we wont eat your dirty foreign food.'

Its also an enormous irony, because when Yingluck was running for office, she was championed as speaking on behalf of the common laborer in the fields, and she was going to stamp out hi-so elitism wherever she found it, like a sort of warrior-queen for agrarianism, who was just doing it for the poor people. Now it turns out she is too hi-so elitist to eat food offered by nations she visits. That food which is served at state dinners is undoubtably far better than the food eaten by the working classes of those host nations, and yet even that is not good enough. Instead of representing the poorest in Thailand (as we were told during the elections) she is the real "Princess and the pea" and sustains bruising from the pea even through twenty feather mattresses.

[animatic]

That he even thinks to say this shows how frivolous the general impression of her work is.

This is classic though:

"Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

He is supposed to be a diplomate right?

Can't eat the food in the local Thai Embassy or your hosts state dinners????

It's a wonder anything gets done with face slapping nation insults like that.

Edited September 30, 2013 by animatic

[smoochy]

I see a huge number of countries on the list with fantastic food. Then again, instant noodles may just be her thing.

[laurentbkk]

and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food.

WOW .. so , the PM has mama soup instead of nice banquet host by the country she visits ? thats what I call a slap for those who invite the PM for official dinners or lunches.

[123thaibourbon]

must give 'KY' (Khun Yingluck) credit, considering what occurred when her brother Thaksin left as PM to the UK.

[I knew this would happen]

That he even thinks to say this shows how frivolous the general impression of her work is.

This is classic though:

"Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

He is supposed to be a diplomate right?

Can't eat the food in the local Thai Embassy or your hosts state dinners????

It's a wonder anything gets done with face slapping nation insults like that.

Yes, from the producers of pla-raa and fried cockroaches

I´d really love to know to which country (ies) they´re referring to. Bangkok is full of fancy restaurants from all over the world where the Thai Hi-So eats all kind of foreign stuff? Which place could serve any food at an official dinner that someone on this planet may consider not "eatable".

Edited September 30, 2013 by I knew this would happen

[chooka]

That he even thinks to say this shows how frivolous the general impression of her work is.

This is classic though:

"Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

He is supposed to be a diplomate right?

Can't eat the food in the local Thai Embassy or your hosts state dinners????

It's a wonder anything gets done with face slapping nation insults like that.

Yes he is a (Thai) Diplomat. Could you image the outrage from the very same guy or any of his counterparts if diplomats of other nations came out and said publically they can't eat the slops Thailand call food.

[hellodolly]

That is a lot of traveling on the people's dime (baht as it were). So, how is that situation in the South going? Or the flood prevention plans two years after hell broke loose? One would think that she had enough work to do at home that she may stay a few days and actually go to the office from time to time.

Yes indeed how is everything at home. That is what she is paid for. Not to travel around the world doing the job of the Trade and Foreign ministers. All though she makes it tough on them by continually changing them to reward another supporter. How many trips do they take. How many do they have to cancel because they have been canceled.

I liked this part

""The prime minister and I had a business background before taking positions in the government, so we know how to do business with foreign countries to generate income for our nation," Surapong said"

He forgot to mention her experience was useless it was just to give her a job in the family business. When she left they did not refill that valuable waste of time job. Maybe saving it for another inept relative. Was his experience equally as extensive?

As for carrying instant food. BS that plane is stocked with 5 star food.

Then there is the bottom line if she stayed home all her stupid speeches would have to be delivered to the population and they would wonder what country she was talking about.

Edited September 30, 2013 by hellodolly

[hellodolly]

"Travelling a lot is no fun at all," he said. "

But its a lot more fun than attending parliament and "facing the music" on the floor of debate. Yingluck avoided Q&A pre-election as much as possible, and avoids open unscripted debates post-election, also as much as possible. As though she were ashamed of her party's policies or simply can not find a way to defend them robustly in direct debate with her fellow politicians. Being in foreign countries all the time, "in Thailand's interests", is a great way to avoid debating policies back home, and defending PTP actions which she does not know how to spin favourably.

Surapong stating that PM trips abroad are important for building bridges and fostering good relations (of all kinds) between nations, this is completely true of the occasional trip. The question is why this is done almost constantly on overdrive by Yingluck.

I see on one of her trips she was in the states. Seems to me it would have been common sense for some one traveling using the reasons she does to not have just jump over the border and introduced herself to Canada.

[hellodolly]

"Our policy is clear. We are friends of all and foes of no country. We trade with everybody and we will invest everywhere," he said.

Translation: we're happy to screw over everyone equally.

Not my department. What and where are the investments Thailand is doing in other countries?

and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food.

WOW .. so , the PM has mama soup instead of nice banquet host by the country she visits ? thats what I call a slap for those who invite the PM for official dinners or lunches.

I changed my mind I am not inviting her for lunch.

On the serious side she reminds me of my wife. If it is not Thai it is no good. 57 countries would be a nightmare with her would have to take a rice cooker every where.

[I knew this would happen]

That he even thinks to say this shows how frivolous the general impression of her work is.

This is classic though:

"Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

He is supposed to be a diplomate right?

Can't eat the food in the local Thai Embassy or your hosts state dinners????

It's a wonder anything gets done with face slapping nation insults like that.

Yes he is a (Thai) Diplomat. Could you image the outrage from the very same guy or any of his counterparts if diplomats of other nations came out and said publically they can't eat the slops Thailand call food.

They might send him an SMS and ask why he´s till here and it would be safer not to talk bad about Thailand if he wants to do any further business. (Phuket, Mr Cunningham)

[NongKhaiKid]

That he even thinks to say this shows how frivolous the general impression of her work is.

This is classic though:

"Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

He is supposed to be a diplomate right?

Can't eat the food in the local Thai Embassy or your hosts state dinners????

It's a wonder anything gets done with face slapping nation insults like that.

Yet another example of a Thai official speaking without thinking. In an effort to defend the trips he tries to convince the local audience that they are so uncomfortable YL and entourage have to take their own food since they can't eat the local food wherever they go.

He's supposed to be a diplomat so must know that embassies all over the world report back to their own governments and he must be very naive, more like stupid, if he thinks this remark will have gone unnoticed.

I wonder how many governments will have reviewed YL's visit to them and how many hosting future trips will embarrass the local Thai embassy be asking " should we organise an official dinner for your PM and party as we understand from your FM they will bring their own food as they can't eat ours ? "

It may not be so direct but I'm sure subtle but pointed remarks may be made.

The stupidity of Thai officialdom knows no bounds but as usual they are in their own little world.

[hellodolly]

It was a stupid thing to say. Par for a Thai politican.

But I bet it will be a big thing in other countries if they think of inviting her.

They have heard her nonsense and now have to wonder what they can serve her to eat as that is very important to her.

[MaxLee]

Surapong, being the Shinawatra's pawn kissing their behinds from foot to head,....

"Trouble bye, bye, I'm going to Hawaii"

[rametindallas]

FM Surapong is only complaining because he doesn't enjoy following the PM around in all the MALLS.

[Songhua]

Imagine if Barry had said, sorry but I don't like green curry - I'm just gonna hide in my room and gnaw on a pastrami sandwich.

[kirk0233]

Yingluck's constant trips outside the country with occasional returns to discuss “reconciliation legislation” add additional support to the notion that her primary concern is her brother. In fact, according to Asian customs, she is obligated to help her family, brother included, before all others. Those who believe her principal concern is some abstract collective called Thailand and its people do not understand Thai psychology and its preference for the reality of senses and expediency. I expect she does only what is necessary abroad to justify continuing travel.

[hellodolly]

That he even thinks to say this shows how frivolous the general impression of her work is.

This is classic though:

"Sometime we have to visit countries where we are not familiar and the premier has to pack instant food with her as we cannot eat local food."

He is supposed to be a diplomate right?

Can't eat the food in the local Thai Embassy or your hosts state dinners????

It's a wonder anything gets done with face slapping nation insults like that.

Yet another example of a Thai official speaking without thinking. In an effort to defend the trips he tries to convince the local audience that they are so uncomfortable YL and entourage have to take their own food since they can't eat the local food wherever they go.

He's supposed to be a diplomat so must know that embassies all over the world report back to their own governments and he must be very naive, more like stupid, if he thinks this remark will have gone unnoticed.

I wonder how many governments will have reviewed YL's visit to them and how many hosting future trips will embarrass the local Thai embassy be asking " should we organise an official dinner for your PM and party as we understand from your FM they will bring their own food as they can't eat ours ? "

It may not be so direct but I'm sure subtle but pointed remarks may be made.

The stupidity of Thai officialdom knows no bounds but as usual they are in their own little world.

What if these other countries think this is the best Thailand has to offer? I wonder if TOT or is it TAT will say as a result of Yingluck's friendly and kind thoughts of other countries food we now expect tourism to grow another 5%.

This of course will be followed by a claim of 10% growth in the export of Thai noodles.

Why does the term noodle-head keep popping into my head. Yes I know I am one. Does that qualify me for a seat in the cabinet. One 6 month stint will make my grandchildren financially set for life. I want to be just like my fellow council members Yes Sir How High Sir. As you can see I have the qualification's.