Thai & Chinese leaders poised to strengthen strategic partnership

BANGKOK, 10 April 2015 (NNT) – Thailand and China have agreed to enhance their strategic partnership in terms of economic and defense cooperation.

During the official visit to China, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Meng Jianzhu highlighted the importance of expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation to defense so that both countries can handle regional problems more effectively.

General Prawit also paid a courtesy call to China’s Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli to discuss concrete ways to continue joint development plans. The meeting focused on regional connectivity, security, trade and tourism.

Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli reiterated China’s support for establishing special economic zones in border provinces; the construction of dual track railways for Nong Khai –Kaeng Khoi – Map Ta Phut port and Kaeng Khoi – Bangkok routes; and Beijing’s readiness to buy Thai rice and rubber.

The Deputy Premier took this opportunity to thank China for encouraging its tourists to vacation in Thailand. Both parties also believed that the Thai and Chinese defense ministries should discuss cooperative programs in the near future.

Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said he admired Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Defense Minister General Prawit for their ability to bring peace and order back to the country. He also expressed his appreciation towards the Thai government’s bids to strengthen 40-year-old relations between the two nations.

-- NNT 2015-04-10

Does this come as a surprise to anyone?

Thailand has agreed to enhance its strategic partnership in terms of economic and defense cooperation with both Russia and China.

What's next - a strategic partnership with North Korea?

This Junta needs to be stroked. It seems all a foreign country's leadership has to say is that they ADMIRE General Prayut's leadership and - bham - he makes a stategic partnership with them. The man seems to have a very manipulative pride. And as he holds absolute power over 60 million Thais, that pride may become the barbed wire to hold Thais' sovereignty hostage to other nation's foreign policies.

"Special economic zones in border provinces" controlled and occupied by the Chinese.

" so that both countries can handle regional problems more effectively." When the Chinese say that it does tend to make me more than a little concerned!

Does this come as a surprise to anyone?

No it doesn't!!!

I can fully understand why Thailand wants to deal with it's friends rather than a country that tries to interfere with and run it's internal affairs simply because it refuses to abide by it's ideology of democratic rule, despite it not being possible at this delicate time in the nation's history.

They should learn to be less aggressive and more understanding and perhaps they will improve their social pool!!.

Does this come as a surprise to anyone?

No it doesn't!!!

I can fully understand why Thailand wants to deal with it's friends rather than a country that tries to interfere with and run it's internal affairs simply because it refuses to abide by it's ideology of democratic rule, despite it not being possible at this delicate time in the nation's history.

They should learn to be less aggressive and more understanding and perhaps they will improve their social pool!!.

According to the polls it is overwhelmingly true that 99% of thai are enjoying the peace of military rule. Who knows,thailand might decide to have a similar governance system as their new best mates China and Russia.

The problem is in 5 or 10 years when people are tired of such strict rule, to the point that it effects their ability to function as happy human beings.

99% of Chinese ,Russians and Thais expect and even beg the Americans , the UN, the EU, to give them their idealogical democratic rules. Quite frankly I have rarely heard of democratic countries asking for assistance for their own problems. When our kids starve, we fix it ourselves. When our education is not adequate, we fix it ourselves. When our governance is in trouble, we fix it ourselves. We don't need a pool of friends, because we take responsibility for ourselves.

If this works out good and good luck. But if it doesn't.

Don't come crybaby to us.

According to the polls it is overwhelmingly true that 99% of thai are enjoying the peace of military rule. Who knows,thailand might decide to have a similar governance system as their new best mates China and Russia.

The problem is in 5 or 10 years when people are tired of such strict rule, to the point that it effects their ability to function as happy human beings.

99% of Chinese ,Russians and Thais expect and even beg the Americans , the UN, the EU, to give them their idealogical democratic rules. Quite frankly I have rarely heard of democratic countries asking for assistance for their own problems. When our kids starve, we fix it ourselves. When our education is not adequate, we fix it ourselves. When our governance is in trouble, we fix it ourselves. We don't need a pool of friends, because we take responsibility for ourselves.

If this works out good and good luck. But if it doesn't.

Don't come crybaby to us.

Would not be the first time. There was that nasty mistake about a world war two.

On the other hand, if the Japanese lost: “Then we must pray to Buddha to give us a golden tongue to explain how it all happened.”

https://www.cambridge.org/asia/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780511079504&ss=exc

I must be the only one that thinks China is preparing Thailand for being the staging area for the Chinese land invasion of Vietnam? A couple more decades and the Chinese will be putting a lot of pressure on Vietnam for the South China Sea region and a western front will be harmful to Vietnam. China invasion from Vietnam's northern border is not enough.

China needs a way of getting troops and supplies down here fast (railroad?). I'd think China will sell armaments to Thaland for a great price as long as the Chinese can use them if needed. Probably have joint exercises so the top army brass will know each other on a friendly basis. China has a plan.