Thai-US relations: it's complicated

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Thai-US relations: it's complicated
The Nation

After 181 years, the coup and its aftermath have opened a new bittersweet chapter on Thai-US relations

BANGKOK: -- If the United States and Thailand were Facebook friends, their "relationship status" right now would read, "It's complicated."

Outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney was witness to the sweetness suddenly turning sour five months ago with the Thai military's power seizure. "Disappointed" was Washington's initial reaction to the May 22 coup. Thailand might still be the same pretty-faced girl courted by the US for almost two centuries, but recent "unacceptable" behaviour has left Washington less eager to embrace her - at least in public. Diplomatic relations have gone into hibernation and the US has made clear there will be no awakening until martial law is lifted and an election is scheduled. Although Kenney insists that the US has not "downgraded" Thailand, the 181-year relationship that has spanned science, humanitarian efforts, health, education, military and trade is now officially on hold.

But each side realises that though the friendship is amid the rocks, it is in their mutual interest to work through the problems. The new US ambassador will not arrive until next year, but whoever steps into Kenney's shoes faces a tricky balancing act in what is neither a healthy nor a terminally ill relationship.

A new US envoy won't mean a fresh start for bilateral ties. But Washington's announcement that the annual Cobra Gold military exercise will resume in Thailand next year shows willingness to compromise. The US cited the exercise's links to humanitarian efforts, which paves the way for the new ambassador to explore other grey areas of cooperation.

Thailand has called for a "time-out" on the road to democracy, while the US insists that official dialogue will only resume when martial law is lifted and elections are restored.

In contrast, Thailand's friendship with China would be described as "In a permanent relationship" on Facebook. The US seems more like a long-time friend whose love is attached to conditions. Its new ambassador will have to tread carefully. He or she can learn a great deal from studying Kenney's four years on the job. She has admitted that Thai politics is complicated, advising, "You must go out and meet everyone." And she knows that well, having drawn both admiration and fierce criticism for representing Washington's views during her tenure.

The history of relations between the two countries has been shaped by their changing "personalities". Anti-American rallies during the 1970s student uprising were led by leftist radicals, while nowadays it's Thai conservatives who are hostile toward US influence. The new ambassador will have to negotiate a situation in which black-and-white politics has become a jumble of greys. Washington's opponents are no longer the communists and rarely are they transgressors of human rights. Likewise, Thai cheerleaders for the US are not necessarily champions of rights.

Thailand's political division is an explosive issue even for those Thais fully engaged with the issues. To pick a safe path through this minefield the new US envoy will have to demonstrate a neutral and non-interventionist style while staying firm on human rights.

Thailand and the US must find a way to maintain their mutually beneficial ties during this period of disagreement. Without an election date fixed here, the new ambassador must tread carefully if Thailand and the US are to change their "complicated" status back to "in a relationship".

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thai-US-relations-its-complicated-30246458.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-29

[EnzoRippo]

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

[rakman]

The current administration is pushing away friends and embracing their enemies. Nobody trusts the foreign policy or the current leadership. Its worse than the Carter administration and will take decades to fix.

Now if the red shirts and muslims joined forces and took over, it would be best buddies again.

[scorecard]

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"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

[EnglishJohn]

Not so complicated from where I stand. The USA clearly appreciate the coup was because of the disgraceful government behaviour. They are bound by their own laws for what they must do for countries under this kind of leadership and they are doing just that and no more.

All they care about is a stable and reliable partner in Asia to counter China and access to whatever oil might be here. They don't care 2 hoots if Thaksin cheats billions but they do care if he risks civil war.

I think that just about covers it. The Thai media would like it to be much more involved than that - but they seem unable to appreciate what a joke they and Thai politics is to the rest of the world.

As for post#4 with not one single reference to the Pheu-Thai government who made the country look like some corrupt African banana republic : take that chip of your shoulder and wake up.

[scorecard]

'But each side realises that though the friendship is amid the rocks.' What rubbish!

'Thailand has called for a "time-out" on the road to democracy, while the US insists that official dialogue will only resume when martial law is lifted and elections are restored.' The US can bugger off and spend some time to balance out their selective support for other countries which are very far from democratic.

Perhaps they would also like to look at the nasty political 'factions' within their own system who seem hell bent on anything, ethical / unethical, etc., that will get the GOP back to the big seat, along with totally disrespecting the rights of the voters who put the current administration in place.

[h90]

Thailand only need be a bit more friendly with Russia and China and USA will be complete OK with everything.

[kamahele]

Of courses Thailand is an independent nation which must make its own decisions about its future, however they need to be careful. Thailand is no longer the anti communist friend that America helped turn it into after WWII. The red menace doesn't' exist anymore for America. Thailand has successfully played both sides of the fence with America and China for decades and America has other friends now in SE Asia now. Consider that America will now allow weapons sales to our old enemy, Vietnam for example. Thailand is also not the economic wonder it was touted to be in the 90's. I hope that Thailand is able to make some decisions about its friends and partners which will be good for ALL the people of Thailand as well as for the world.

[Balance]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

Wake up!! It is not the U.S., but the EU that is calling out the horrible human rights record of the Thai elites/government. What is not understood is the people in 1st world countries care about human rights and they take direct action by not buying Thai products and putting pressure on their democratic governments to not support a morality that allows slavery. This is not the 19th century.

[Misty]

Due to the US Senate's dysfunction, apparently there's a significant backlog of ambassadorial nominees awaiting approval - according to a recent Boston Globe article, 55 out of 226 positions, including countries like South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Sierra Leone - have no US ambassador currently. Will Thailand be the next?

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2014/08/31/ambassadors-are-latest-casualty-senate-gridlock-dozens-awaiting-votes-for-months/ZNZsWWAenyPsykBSDYG8VN/story.html

[scorecard]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

Wake up!! It is not the U.S., but the EU that is calling out the horrible human rights record of the Thai elites/government. What is not understood is the people in 1st world countries care about human rights and they take direct action by not buying Thai products and putting pressure on their democratic governments to not support a morality that allows slavery. This is not the 19th century.

The article was more about the coup than human rights. (Not to say there are human rights problems.)

Nice attempt to divert.

[Fred Flinstone]

Thailand is seen as much the same as a down syndrome child that bangs the table demanding its Parent do what they say.

The Charitable love can only go so far-

Eventually, it might need to be placed in an institution if it can't be helped.

The United States has a long history with Thailand But this current military Junta won't dictate to America -

But it can find out the hard way if its not careful

[Thai at Heart]

Of courses Thailand is an independent nation which must make its own decisions about its future, however they need to be careful. Thailand is no longer the anti communist friend that America helped turn it into after WWII. The red menace doesn't' exist anymore for America. Thailand has successfully played both sides of the fence with America and China for decades and America has other friends now in SE Asia now. Consider that America will now allow weapons sales to our old enemy, Vietnam for example. Thailand is also not the economic wonder it was touted to be in the 90's. I hope that Thailand is able to make some decisions about its friends and partners which will be good for ALL the people of Thailand as well as for the world.

Thailand thinks it has successfully played both sides of the fence. Do you think China holds Thailand with any real regard?

Its just a bit of the map which may provide access for shipping. If it can't or won't, they will find another friend. China is a fairweather short term friend.

[ikurauni]

Who is making the US - Thai relations complicated?

Let Thai people do whatever the best for them.

[Thai at Heart]

Who is making the US - Thai relations complicated?

Let Thai people do whatever the best for them.

They will irrespective anyway.

[Thai at Heart]

Who is making the US - Thai relations complicated?

Let Thai people do whatever the best for them.

They will irrespective anyway.

[BlackJack]

theres the Thai way

and the Thai way

there is no other way

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

Sorry but unlike Thailand now, the US people can exercise their freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Americans can speculate, opinionate, dream, promise, publish, and post. Unlike Thailand, it is not a crime to speak out against nor criticize the US or any other government. Americans do not need to be like good Thai people to revere their government, their military, their heritage or culture.

While for Americans there are no guarantees that an elected government will keep or meets its promises, there is a guarantee of accountability by the electorate to replace that government by peaceful means through elections. And again unlike Thailand now, Americans have the guarantee of the US Constitution to preserve and protect their Liberty, Rights, and Freedom without threat of a military coup to rob them of such priviledges.

America's democracy is in order and its citizens sit straight upon their high horse of democracy with a government for the people - by the people. Your turn Thailand.

[metisdead]

Off topic deflection posts and replies have been removed.

Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[phanangpete]

When the General seized power back in May, he was busy making statements that it was not a military coup and that the Nation should not panic, for that he was right, in his actions.

John Kerry leaped in stating that, it was unacceptable and demanding that the Junta should return power to the people asap, and have democratic elections. The General stated, America you are not my father !

I posted then, that Kerry and his advisors were ill advised as to what was politically happening in Thailand , the Country was falling in, close to a complete breakdown.

He has gone rather quiet since then, when Thailand is mature and educated enough to embrace true and fair democratic elections ,then and only then can they go down that road, maybe he should look up a bit of US history .

[mania]

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Actually none know what the will of the overwhelming number Thai people is do they?

Just saying, but the truth is & you should know since your name is scorecard that

there is at this time no way of knowing what the actual score is

[tbthailand]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

the USA doesn't have to accept or acknowledge a post-intervention unelected government.

And your "will of the overwhelming number of thai people" is comical to the point of just being absurd. The will of the Thai people had nothing to do with the 'intervention'

"get it's own house in order"

well that kind of comment is no surprise, but it is also irrelevant - just completely irrelevant. where are you from anyway?

[tbthailand]

what with the tulsathit pieca and now the 'facebook friend status' article, the Nation appears to be smoking something a bit stronger than usual.

[mutha289]

Ah yes another opportunity for the Thai and the US bashers to get their jollies.

[northernjohn]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

Sorry but unlike Thailand now, the US people can exercise their freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Americans can speculate, opinionate, dream, promise, publish, and post. Unlike Thailand, it is not a crime to speak out against nor criticize the US or any other government. Americans do not need to be like good Thai people to revere their government, their military, their heritage or culture.

While for Americans there are no guarantees that an elected government will keep or meets its promises, there is a guarantee of accountability by the electorate to replace that government by peaceful means through elections. And again unlike Thailand now, Americans have the guarantee of the US Constitution to preserve and protect their Liberty, Rights, and Freedom without threat of a military coup to rob them of such priviledges.

America's democracy is in order and its citizens sit straight upon their high horse of democracy with a government for the people - by the people. Your turn Thailand.

More dribble.

The states has the most people imprisoned per capata of any country in the world. They are trying to live by a constitution that was written with no thought of changes in the culture or technology. Exactly like the Jewish nation eating under a set of rules laid out for them thousands of years ago when there was no such thing as hygiene or means of obtaining it. The states now finds it's self chocking on it's laws. They know the coup was the best thing that could happen to Thailand but can't admit it.

As for elections to solve all their problems they have a system of checks and balances that does not allow any nonsense such as a self imposed in exile convicted criminal from serving time he was sentenced to for breaking the law running the country.

Only some one who knew absolutely nothing about either country could compare the two.

[madpat]

If I was a Thai I would not worry to much about the relationship with the US, a country that has civil rights issues, poverty,deep in debt, illegal low paid workers, high murder rate and corrupt Government Officials, yes the "good ol US of A " has no right to criticise Thailand for its wrongs.

[tbthailand]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"Thailand and the US must find a way" Must? Why?

"the new ambassador must tread carefully " Must? Why?

'The new ambassador must tread carefully.'

Actually the US Ambassador, whoever it is, should respect the will of the overwhelming number of Thai people who

are quite happy to have the good general try to get it all back on a sensible path, along with many much needed reforms.

Is there a guarantee? NO.

Is there a guarantee that any government will act in the best wishes of all the citizens of the country? Absolutely NO X 3. And we have just witnessed just this point.

US should get off it's high horse and get it's own house in order before being opinionated and verbal about what should happen in Thailand.

Sorry but unlike Thailand now, the US people can exercise their freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Americans can speculate, opinionate, dream, promise, publish, and post. Unlike Thailand, it is not a crime to speak out against nor criticize the US or any other government. Americans do not need to be like good Thai people to revere their government, their military, their heritage or culture.

While for Americans there are no guarantees that an elected government will keep or meets its promises, there is a guarantee of accountability by the electorate to replace that government by peaceful means through elections. And again unlike Thailand now, Americans have the guarantee of the US Constitution to preserve and protect their Liberty, Rights, and Freedom without threat of a military coup to rob them of such priviledges.

America's democracy is in order and its citizens sit straight upon their high horse of democracy with a government for the people - by the people. Your turn Thailand.

More dribble.

The states has the most people imprisoned per capata of any country in the world. They are trying to live by a constitution that was written with no thought of changes in the culture or technology. Exactly like the Jewish nation eating under a set of rules laid out for them thousands of years ago when there was no such thing as hygiene or means of obtaining it. The states now finds it's self chocking on it's laws. They know the coup was the best thing that could happen to Thailand but can't admit it.

As for elections to solve all their problems they have a system of checks and balances that does not allow any nonsense such as a self imposed in exile convicted criminal from serving time he was sentenced to for breaking the law running the country.

Only some one who knew absolutely nothing about either country could compare the two.

are you American? Cause I am and i cannot tell from the way that you write about the US that you understand anything about it besides statistics that you find on the internet.

For example, it is absolutely true that the US has a ton of people in prison, and it also has nothing at all to do with rickirs points about free speech and elections. As for the constitution, well, shoot, it's only the most long-lived, durable, stable, and yet adaptable framework for democracy, liberty, and human rights on the planet.

There are a lot of things that are screwed up in the USA, but the constitution and the rights guaranteed under it are not among them.