Pattaya Police Raid Poker Gambling Ring, Arrest 9 Foreign Players

[webfact]

ANALYSIS
Dynamics of power are key as Kingdom struggles with the 'great game' of diplomacy
Wiraj Sripong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A well-balanced foreign policy is needed for Thailand in light of competition between major powers, mainly the United States and China, to increase their influence over Southeast Asia, said prominent scholars in international relations.

Thailand is seen as getting closer to Beijing after pressure from Washington over the military coup to topple an elected government last May.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, an adviser to Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and defence minister, has raised six possible scenarios that he believes could occur.

The first one is the continuation of the American hegemony.

The second one is the growing importance of China to the point it usurps the US's influence.

Scenario three underlines the possibility of the international community witnessing Sino-US cooperation instead of having only one supreme power.

The fourth one centres on the possibility of the US and China cooperating with other major powers to determine the global order.

The fifth one puts regional organisations at the centre of the international order.

Scenario six would see a return to balanced power, a period in which countries would focus on their own survival.

For the moment, the US will remain the only hegemon enjoying the role of rule-maker, while China would eventually assume that role, said Chulacheeb Chinwanno, an expert in international relations from the Faculty of Political Science at Thammasat University.

The competition between the great powers from the Western hemisphere and the ones from Asia, especially China, will become more apparent in the coming years, said Chulacheeb.

At the regional level, the dynamics of power plays between major powers is no different from the ones that occur at an international level, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, an international political economy lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University.

Asean and Thailand, Thitinan said, would have to learn how to use their geographical position and their natural resources as assets to maximise their gains.

This "new great game" of geopolitical competition, according to him, has intensified, especially in mainland Southeast Asia (the Greater Mekong Sub-region), where three major powers - China, the US and Japan - have been actively supporting economic and social developments.

The GMS harbours more than 300 million potential consumers and a combined gross domestic product of more than US$1 trillion (Bt32.5 trillion), he said.

Beijing's soft power projection, along with Japanese investment in the region, "have helped shape the region's contours and the economic trajectory of mainland Southeast Asia", he said.

Thitinan said the US had upped its game in mainland Southeast Asia through an aide programme for development called the Lower Mekong Initiative.

Chulacheeb added this could be considered a sign from Washington that the supreme power wanted to be part of the game despite its domestic preoccupation and its interests in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere.

This political game should be seen as a window of opportunity for all sides, the three prominent scholars agreed. The politico economics and security interdependencies are the underlying key factor to creating a win-win situation for all.

According to Thitinan, the US exerting its maritime power is necessary for regional peace and stability, while the equilibrium in the Sino-Japan relationship could enhance economic growth and increase the level of development in the region.

It is crucial for Asean to come up with a more common position and direction for regional integration, he said, as it would help Asean seize the opportunity deriving from the competition between great powers to invest in the region.

Also, commonalities would help the region strike the right balance between economic growth and development, the three scholars agreed.

Chulacheeb highlighted the importance of Asean centrality - playing the role of a stabiliser for peace and order - when this region has to deal with different challenges.

As for Thailand, the country has long been affected by its domestic political instability, which has impacted on the continuity of its foreign policy. However, the three scholars said Thailand's geographical position together with its human and natural resources were built-in assets that could not be taken away.

"Thailand needs to harness its strategic location as a geopolitical asset to maximise its position in the global pecking order", said Thitinan.

For the moment, Thailand is undergoing only short and medium-term strategies in the conduct of its foreign policy, said Panitan.

Panitan added that in order for Thailand to become more proactive in the international scene, it had to adhere to and adjust its goals in relation to international norms, be it trade, politics or human rights.

He said the political transition would be the determining factor that would allow the country to move forward.

Chulacheeb touched on the concept of "balanced strategic engagements" which would facilitate Thailand boosting contacts with its international partners and maximising its gains.

To do so, Thailand would need to play a leading role, he said, adding that Thailand needed to come up with concrete and constructive initiatives in response to current regional and international challenges.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Dynamics-of-power-are-key-as-Kingdom-struggles-wit-30253661.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-09

[NongKhaiKid]

Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, are we talking about Thailand ?

Thainess is the only benchmark needed and the world has to understand LoS not the other way round.

[chooka]

Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, are we talking about Thailand ?

Thainess is the only benchmark needed and the world has to understand LoS not the other way round.

No point in even trying to adopt a well balanced foreign policy when other countries don't recognise the Junta or its foreign affairs dept as a legitimate government. Thai needs to elect a ligit government then it may be taken with a dose of credibility.

[NongKhaiKid]

Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, are we talking about Thailand ?

Thainess is the only benchmark needed and the world has to understand LoS not the other way round.

No point in even trying to adopt a well balanced foreign policy when other countries don't recognise the Junta or its foreign affairs dept as a legitimate government. Thai needs to elect a ligit government then it may be taken with a dose of credibility.

You've got that right and all the propaganda that every national leader that dear leader meets understands and supports the junta and the road map is just so much nonsense.

I should say there are countries out there that will fully understand all the junta does and new best friend China is a prime example.

Edited February 8, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[BSJ]

Correct me if I am wrong but hasn't China been waiting for a long time to become the prominent global player at all levels. They have no intention of sharingthe top spot with USA or anyone else.

[yellowboat]

"Panitan Wattanayagorn,......has raised six possible scenarios that he believes could occur." Does one need to read any further ?

[wabothai]

China does not follow the path of democracy. Naturally and logically the junta joins forces with China on all fronts.

A huge problem will arise when Thailand seeks the path of democracy after the elections.

[thedude82]

Diplomacy and Thailand should not be in the same sentence. This govt has zero power outside of its borders.

[rickirs]

In order for Thailand to become more proactive in the international scene, it needs a stable and reliable government that lasts more than five years without a military coup overthrowing the government. The strategy of any foreign government towards Thailand will simply be, "Wait a couple years and try again." Look at the world powers, whether they be in the Western or Eastern hemispheres, and you'll find one of the common denominators is a long-lived government. That applies to kingdoms, constitutional monarchies, democracies, oligarchies, and dictatorships.

Thailand cannot play the 'great game' of diplomacy until it finishes its own great game of soverneighty. Unfortunately, the Junta is using twelve-sided dice in the game that relies on divinity for the outcome. Chock-dee with that.

[whatawonderfulday]

China has just executed a billionaire for corruption. Lets allow the Chinese to sort out Thai corruption the same way. Then perhaps Thailand can have a dynamic power house rather then the "same same" of utter corruption as has existed for 2 centuries.

Then the international community may then start to accept Thailand as an equal rather then a country where the gun allows access to the trough for different parties from time to time.