How Trump and Harris Converge on Key Policies Despite Political Polarization

[webfact]

US wants to bolster ties with Thailand: Foreign Ministry
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION
NEW YORK

NEW YORK: -- THE United States has sought to expand its cooperation with Thailand and is exploring the idea of holding a fifth strategic dialogue soon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said Monday.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai discussed bilateral relations between the two countries with the US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, currently underway in New York.

The US gives importance to Thailand as a long-time partner and wants to expand its cooperation with the Kingdom in all aspects for bilateral and regional benefit, Sek said after the meeting.

The US understands the roles of Thailand in the region and in the UN system, so Washington wants to cooperate more with the Kingdom for mutual interests, he said.

"Thailand and US relations have been going 183 years. The ties [between the two nations] are long and we have to look to the future in the long run as well," he said.

In the region, Thailand has played driving roles in Asean, of which the US is a key partner, he said.

He also noted that Washington needed Thailand, as one of its oldest allies, to push many global agendas such as for public health, disease outbreak control, disaster management and peace keeping.

Thailand's relationship with the US became cool following the military coup in May last year and Washington pressed the government to quickly restore democracy and respect human rights.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/US-wants-to-bolster-ties-with-Thailand-Foreign-Min-30269721.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-28

[Praematura]

Thailand is so important that they caught up to a minor official in the hallway. Thailand is less important than Malaysia (see unwarranted TIP upgrade) and since it's a Chinese puppet now I don't see anyone in the USA giving a shit. The lines have been drawn geopolitically by referring to the TPP agreement of which Thailand was excluded.

I for one don't see any reason why not to impose sanctions, which is Obamas prerogative since they remain at the lowest level on the TIP report. I don't see any significance to having a relationship with Thailand.

[docshock13]

Another case of Thailand speaking on behalf of other governments.

I am not disputing the meeting or what was said, but wouldn't it be nice if the US envoy expressed his country's intentions first hand instead of receiving the the "good news" second hand?

And BTW, this is not news. It is a feel good piece for local consumption written by perhaps one of the worst "news" outlets in the Kingdom.

Can't wait for Paula's next opinion piece.

[peterjackson]

And of course the US have confirmed this..... NOT.

Amazing what gets discussed whilst washing your hands in the bathroom/toilet.

Talk about another Thai Potty mouth.

[Prbkk]

Was it just last year that Suthep led the feral mob to the embassy? The crowd screaming "Americans get out". Abhisit was there, perhaps less vocal.

[NeverSure]

The US would like to have closer ties to Thailand as:

A democracy.

A country that doesn't engage in human trafficking.

A country that's not in bed with China as the US tries to keep sea and air lanes open.

A country that conforms to sustainable fishing values.

Deleted the rest of it.

[webfact]

UNGA
US wants to expand ties with Thailand, seeks strategic talks
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION
NEW YORK


Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai stops for a selfie with a group of |pro-government demonstration near the UN headquarters in New York. Officials said Don met the protesters by chance while walking from the UN to the Thai mission nearby after a road was blocked

NEW YORK: -- THE United States has sought to expand its cooperation with Thailand and is exploring the idea of holding a fifth strategic dialogue soon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai discussed bilateral relations between the two countries with the US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, currently underway in New York.

The US gives importance to Thailand as a long-time partner and wants to expand its cooperation with the Kingdom in all aspects for bilateral and regional benefit, Sek said after the meeting.

The US understands the roles of Thailand in the region and in the UN system, so Washington wants to cooperate more with the Kingdom for mutual interests, he said.

"Thailand and US relations have been going 183 years. The ties [between the two nations] are long and we have to look to the future in the long run as well," he said.

In the region, Thailand has played driving roles in Asean, of which the US is a key partner, he said.

He also noted that Washington needed Thailand, as one of its oldest allies, to push many global agendas such as for public health, disease outbreak control, disaster management and peace keeping.

Thailand's relationship with the US became cool following the military coup in May last year and Washington pressed the government to quickly restore democracy and respect human rights.

After a long vacancy in the top position at the US mission in Bangkok, the arrival of new US Ambassador Glyn Davies has been interpreted as a positive sign, Sek said.

The new US ambassador had good intentions and a good understanding of Thailand, qualifications that will help promote better relations, he said.

The US knows Thailand is in a reform process and will become stronger when the country returns to normal, he said.

For the benefit of relations, the joint military exercise Cobra Gold will continue as usual next year and the US recognises the role of Thailand in combating regional migration after Bangkok called for an international meeting on the issue in May, he said.

During the meeting in New York officials from both sides exchanged ideas on the possibility of holding the fifth strategic dialogue meeting in Thailand as soon as possible after a long delay. The previous strategic dialogue was held in Washington in 2012 and aimed to guide the direction of the countries' relationship.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/US-wants-to-expand-ties-with-Thailand-seeks-strate-30269756.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-29

[Just1Voice]

Well, with Thailand's proven record of putting words into the mouths of other governments, until I read or see something from the U.S. on this, it's just more Thai bull feces.

[Muirton]

The current administration in Bangkok does what I think no other government in the world does, routinely states what the other party said in private meetings, which is to say "mis-states" -- or they wouldn't be saying anything.. Thai Police know no shame but that's an internal matter: this is a separate issue, involving more than shamelessness. To "quote" the other party after a meeting is a huge violation of international protocol. Like the current administation cares.

[fred Kubasa]

Either this is a more then slight eggzageration or US diplomats have all, simoultaneously, lost their minds !( no spell checker )

[oneday]

The US this and the US that, but not one quote from any US official.

I do not believe one word of this article, though I will grant something may have been said between a US and Thai official, just not what is supposed to have been said in this article.

[Dustdevil]

Thailand is so important that they caught up to a minor official in the hallway. Thailand is less important than Malaysia (see unwarranted TIP upgrade) and since it's a Chinese puppet now I don't see anyone in the USA giving a shit. The lines have been drawn geopolitically by referring to the TPP agreement of which Thailand was excluded.

I for one don't see any reason why not to impose sanctions, which is Obamas prerogative since they remain at the lowest level on the TIP report. I don't see any significance to having a relationship with Thailand.

TIP upgrades notwithstanding, I cannot, as someone who once lived in Malaysia (OK, that' doesn't make me the world's expert), see Malaysia as more important to the US than Thailand. Thailand is a major manufacturer, more so than Malaysia. Thailand is also socially much more appealing to western sensibilities than Muslim-majority Malaysia and its racist, fascist government.

[FangFerang]

Thailand is so important that they caught up to a minor official in the hallway. Thailand is less important than Malaysia (see unwarranted TIP upgrade) and since it's a Chinese puppet now I don't see anyone in the USA giving a shit. The lines have been drawn geopolitically by referring to the TPP agreement of which Thailand was excluded.

I for one don't see any reason why not to impose sanctions, which is Obamas prerogative since they remain at the lowest level on the TIP report. I don't see any significance to having a relationship with Thailand.

TIP upgrades notwithstanding, I cannot, as someone who once lived in Malaysia (OK, that' doesn't make me the world's expert), see Malaysia as more important to the US than Thailand. Thailand is a major manufacturer, more so than Malaysia. Thailand is also socially much more appealing to western sensibilities than Muslim-majority Malaysia and its racist, fascist government.

Malaysia is more important because they signed the TPTA....giving US copyright holders the right to sue member nations in the world courts....Thailand said no.

[abitmiffed]

And in tomorrow's news: USA denies reports of stronger ties with This,

I have no idea what to believe in the news anymore, the garbage that spews out of Thai/Eng sites is very misleading to say the least, 1 day this crap the next day denial.

[tbthailand]

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai stops for a selfie with a group of |pro-government demonstration near the UN headquarters in New York. Officials said Don met the protesters by chance while walking from the UN to the Thai mission nearby after a road was blocked

and meanwhile back in Thailand,

The Thai authorities have admitted that they blocked websites and Facebook pages of the anti-establishment red shirts to prevent them from broadcasting the anti-junta protest at the UN. Prachatai

And these jokers think that no one notices???

[outsider]

I have a suspicion that the headline should actually read "Thailand Wants to Bolster Ties with the US". And as usual, not a SINGLE quote from the US. It's Thailand speaking on behalf of, and representing everyone else.

[GAZZPA]

"been in relationship for 183 years"

Except during WW2 when Thailand supported the Nazis but then strategically switched sides when they knew the allied forces were going to win.

In reference to the point, Thailand has nothing to offer the US. If democracy is not restored and if the human rights issues are not tackled I can see trade sanctions looming, never mind talking about strategic alliances.

[Baerboxer]

The current administration in Bangkok does what I think no other government in the world does, routinely states what the other party said in private meetings, which is to say "mis-states" -- or they wouldn't be saying anything.. Thai Police know no shame but that's an internal matter: this is a separate issue, involving more than shamelessness. To "quote" the other party after a meeting is a huge violation of international protocol. Like the current administation cares.

To be fair, previous administrations in Bangkok had the same habit. And they didn't care either, even when simply making things up.

Now, which will I go and watch, the Thai leg of the Tour de France, or the Buriam F1 Grand Prix?

[Baerboxer]

"been in relationship for 183 years"

Except during WW2 when Thailand supported the Nazis but then strategically switched sides when they knew the allied forces were going to win.

In reference to the point, Thailand has nothing to offer the US. If democracy is not restored and if the human rights issues are not tackled I can see trade sanctions looming, never mind talking about strategic alliances.

Some Thais do seemingly support National Socialism - and wear the regalia to show it.

But I think the side that supported the Axis powers in WW11 were more in support of Japan who effectively occupied whichever bits of Thailand they fancied.

Obama's administration are two faced liars. They support "democracy" when it suits them i.e. when the elected government in question supports American interests and does as it's told. They do not support democratically elected governments when they support independent ideas or support those America considers enemies - e.g. Ukraine, Egypt, and now Syria.

Always a case of do as we say not as we do.

[Redline]

And, who said this on the US side? Was it a late night drinking session? Did someone say beach and girls?

Sorry, I though the adminisrative assistant was someone important

[Praematura]

Thailand is so important that they caught up to a minor official in the hallway. Thailand is less important than Malaysia (see unwarranted TIP upgrade) and since it's a Chinese puppet now I don't see anyone in the USA giving a shit. The lines have been drawn geopolitically by referring to the TPP agreement of which Thailand was excluded.

I for one don't see any reason why not to impose sanctions, which is Obamas prerogative since they remain at the lowest level on the TIP report. I don't see any significance to having a relationship with Thailand.

TIP upgrades notwithstanding, I cannot, as someone who once lived in Malaysia (OK, that' doesn't make me the world's expert), see Malaysia as more important to the US than Thailand. Thailand is a major manufacturer, more so than Malaysia. Thailand is also socially much more appealing to western sensibilities than Muslim-majority Malaysia and its racist, fascist government.

Intuitively your point makes sense, however the U.S. authorities made the decision to upgrade Malaysia not Thailand. Also, I think the fact Thailand is so pro China is the death knell for their involvement with the U.S. Look at Egypt with a similar dictatorship, if it was in bed with Russia I could see similar treatment. Further, the pm is noxious and there's a lot of distance between the west and his regime. At least on its face Malaysia has a more functional democracy and is not pro-China. I don't know what the Obama administration used to justify the TIP upgrade but we all know it was unwarranted so there must be more to Malaysia then we see.

[brain150]

The US would like to have closer ties to Thailand as:

A democracy.

A country that doesn't engage in human trafficking.

A country that's not in bed with China as the US tries to keep sea and air lanes open.

A country that conforms to sustainable fishing values.

Deleted the rest of it.

Well ... the US is in no way a democracy, so why would it care ?

The US is heavily involved in human trafficking world wide

The US is in bed with all terrorist organisations on the planet ... including China and Russia

The US has no values other than profit and accepts torture and anything you can imagine to get away with it

... I am not sure why anybody would want "ties" with the US [apart from dictators, terrorists and criminals] ?

[tbthailand]

The US would like to have closer ties to Thailand as:

A democracy.

A country that doesn't engage in human trafficking.

A country that's not in bed with China as the US tries to keep sea and air lanes open.

A country that conforms to sustainable fishing values.

Deleted the rest of it.

Well ... the US is in no way a democracy, so why would it care ?

The US is heavily involved in human trafficking world wide

The US is in bed with all terrorist organisations on the planet ... including China and Russia

The US has no values other than profit and accepts torture and anything you can imagine to get away with it

... I am not sure why anybody would want "ties" with the US [apart from dictators, terrorists and criminals] ?

... I am not sure why anybody would want "ties" with the US

... and I am not sure why "brain" is part of your alias...

[LawrenceN]

I am not disputing the meeting or what was said, but wouldn't it be nice if the US envoy expressed his country's intentions first hand instead of receiving the the "good news" second hand?

The new US ambassador arrived in Thailand last Wednesday, 23 Aug. I attended a conference at which he spoke on Friday. Later that day, by a stroke of dumb luck, he sat down directly across from me at dinner.

The ambassador said exactly what you want him to say. He is here (according to his own words) to improve the relationship between the US and Thailand, which is nearing its 200-year anniversary. He just got here, hasn't even presented his credentials to the Foreign Ministry yet, which ties his hands a bit. Be patient. The guy is a career diplomat (second generation), not a political appointee. Be patient.