Thai Foreign Ministry explains China's 'One Belt One Road' strategy

[webfact]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains China's "One Belt One Road" strategy



BANGKOK, 8 April 2015 (NNT) - The Department of East Asian Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported on China’s “One Belt One Road” solidarity strategy.

The department explained that the “One Belt One Road” strategy is a proactive Chinese policy to expand the country’s role and influence on the international stage in counterbalance with the United States. The strategy involves omni-directional cooperation, connecting with all countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The progressive policy consists of two initiatives. The first initiative is to develop the New Silk Road Economic Belt, connecting the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The second initiative is the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, connecting China with Southeast Asian countries.

The Chinese government also intends to establish the Silk Road Fund and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with 40 billion US dollars, to support capacity building in the aforementioned regions.

China is also setting aside 30 million yuan or 157.3 million baht for the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, for joint technological and scientific projects on marine conservation and economic cooperation.


-- NNT 2015-04-08

[Your Thainess]

"The progressive policy"

This term needs a bit more explaining. Are they merely repeating what the Chinese said, is this the opinion of the Thai regime, editorializing on someone's part...?

One glance at that map, and you'll forgive me for wondering how progressive the plan is.

[chainarong]

Sounds like a justification for becoming great mates with China , anything or any comment from both countries I would tend to believe that they were handling the truth rather carelessly, since this junta has taken on executive powers, Thailand has gone from a train wreck to junior basket case , not a bad effort.

[taichiplanet]

looking at that map, China needs to help get the Kra Isthmus canal set up. Imagine the kickbacks on that project!

[MrY]

The megalo-what plan..?

[SABloke]

That map reminds me of WW2 expansion maps. The red colour and arrow doesn't help

[attento]

That map reminds me of WW2 expansion maps. The red colour and arrow doesn't help

Look back in Chinese history further than WWII. The Chinese trader, traveller, explorer Zheng He created these blue lines on the map back in the 14 Century.

Now, the Chinese are attempting to re-establish dominance over the waters around south east Asia. Maybe Thailand has mis-understood China's position on this matter.

[Strangebrew]

Yeah one road drive on wrong side get belted

[elgordo38]

That map reminds me of WW2 expansion maps. The red colour and arrow doesn't help

Look back in Chinese history further than WWII. The Chinese trader, traveller, explorer Zheng He created these blue lines on the map back in the 14 Century.

Now, the Chinese are attempting to re-establish dominance over the waters around south east Asia. Maybe Thailand has mis-understood China's position on this matter.

Yes Admiral Zheng was a famous man unfortunately when the next generation came to power they destroyed all his maps etc. and China became a closed society. I have read the book and watched the 2 part movie. He was born ahead of his time. Getting back to the subject at hand how can China create alliances with countries that they are presently trying to steal land from and that covers most counties that border along the ocean. These conflicts are in the news daily. Re-establish dominance hmm yes a good phrase to use. It may go beyond territorial boundries.

[zydeco]

The US should simply announce that it is through worrying about Thailand. Thailand is on its own. Have whatever government it pleases, trade with whom it pleases, make alliances with the Russians, Chinese, and North Koreans. But Thailand should not complain when it is entirely cut off from the US market.

[oneday]

"...in counterbalance with the United States..."

It's a lot more than counterbalancing. It's China's slow inexorable take-over of the world. First they will consolidate their position in Asia with every country owing China and eventually the small Asian countries will be subsumed by China. China is ever so patient.

[zydeco]

"...in counterbalance with the United States..."

It's a lot more than counterbalancing. It's China's slow inexorable take-over of the world. First they will consolidate their position in Asia with every country owing China and eventually the small Asian countries will be subsumed by China. China is ever so patient.

China faces too many domestic threats. Its populace is restive. The Chinese really are riding on the back of a tiger. It wouldn't take much for them to be flipped off and devoured. The country is polluted, its growth slowing, massively corrupt, with NO economic or political transparency, and most of the time, the very air the Chinese are forced to breathe is just short of poisonous. The place could crumble and will undergo drastic change. Thailand is tying itself to a potential disaster. But let them. As an American, I am simply unwilling to care anymore. Thailand is Thailand's business. Nobody else's. Don't coerce them, force them, or entice them. Let them do whatever they want. And live with their choice.

[worgeordie]

I hope they are not building roads with the idea of expanding,like Hitler

did with the Autobahns,the cunning oriental devils.

regards worgeordie

[Chris Lawrence]

"China’s development strategy of “build it and they will come” has already run into difficulty at home. Should the same thing happen abroad, it could generate not only political backlash against China, but borrowers’ failure to pay back their loans, or businesses’ inability to recoup their investments could end up placing additional stress on the Chinese economy rather helping to marginally ease a deepening slowdown." http://csis.org/publication/building-chinas-one-belt-one-road

The above link is an article that explains the concept more carefully than OP.

[Longtooth]

"...in counterbalance with the United States..."

It's a lot more than counterbalancing. It's China's slow inexorable take-over of the world. First they will consolidate their position in Asia with every country owing China and eventually the small Asian countries will be subsumed by China. China is ever so patient.

Yes. China's ambitions are obvious. It's a new world every day, in small ways. China is hungry. Chinese language boarding schools, trains with right of way and maintenance agreements, trade agreements, military agreements, ... Money invested in other countries' infrastructures that benefits China is money well spent. More and more little hooks. That shortcut shipping canal through Thailand and Myanmar would be a super investment for China (as mentioned above somewhere), if the right "agreements" were a part of the finance, build, maintain, and administer package". Eventually I could visualize U.S. warships being excluded from it's use, due to previous "agreements" in place. China is such a powerhouse right now, "resistance is futile!" I think the next lines are, "We come in peace. Destroy! Destroy!"

[bangon04]

"China is patient"

Yes it is a war by attrition. Just without the bloodshed hopefully. The Chinese have learned by the mistakes of others.