Welcome to Thailand's diplomatic jamboree

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Welcome to Thailand's diplomatic jamboree
Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Early October, Rear Admiral Simon Ancona, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) from the United Kingdom was in Bangkok to "re-engage" Thailand after the power seizure last May. He was one of most senior defence officials from Europe to stop over here for such a purpose. For Thailand, the UK is the most important European country as far as security is concerned.

London is considered traditionally friendly to Bangkok even though such persistency has been evaporating in recent years. EU has been at the forefront pressuring Thailand to return to democracy and improve standards on human rights-related issues.

Ancona's visit had nothing to do with Mark Kent, the Thai-speaking British ambassador, who was summoned recently to the Foreign Ministry for his comment on the current political situation. Rather, it was part of the realisation in the West that if Thailand has been left unattended, or in a state of "freezing" according to a diplomatic jargon, it could backfire on them. Now, Thailand has normal relations with nearly all the countries in the United Nations.

No wonder, the newly appointed the Pacific Command or PACOM, Navy Adm Harry B Harris Jr, is currently working together with the Thai armed forces to plan for a visit to Thailand. His visit will send a strong signal that Thai-US defence ties have returned to a "normal" state. The region's largest military annual exercise, Cobra Gold, will continue despite earlier threats of cancellation. Some US$1.4 million in international military education and training assistance has been suspended but other forms of assistance continue. This year marks 183 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations. Thailand is one of five US allies in the Asia-Pacific.

Of late, Washington's more enthusiastic and friendlier response to Bangkok has mainly been the outcome of Thailand's latest diplomatic initiatives and improved regional and international standing. Last month, Thailand was elected and succeeded South Africa as the chair of Group 77, which it helped found in 1964. Early this year Thailand decided to up its profile in the 133-member grouping, the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations.

So far, all analysis on the new Thai diplomatic moves was framed as part of overall strategies to win votes for the bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2017-18. At a deeper level, it serves as a barometer of Thailand's shift on diplomatic practices, adding more flexibility for multi-pronged approaches as it distances from US-oriented pathways. It comes, interestingly, while Thailand's regional position has been boosted both within Asean and other sub-regional groups. Thailand is also the current chair of the Asia Dialogue Cooperation established in 2002. As one of the founders of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sector Technical Cooperation in 1997, Bangkok has vowed to reinvigorate the grouping that links South Asia and Asean.

In contrast, Thai-US ties are at the lowest ebb since 1975 when US troops moved out of Thailand and all US air facilities shut down after the war in Indochina. Bilateral ties could go down further if the Obama administration continues to make friends with former enemies. Bangkok's failure to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council last year was a blow to national pride. In private, Thai officials slammed their Western friends for failing to understand domestic dynamics and its moderate human rights record.

With the new road map, ongoing political reforms will continue here till the election scheduled in mid-2017. So, the US faces a Catch-22 situation. Obviously, Washington can no longer be complacent and allow ties to drift further toward mummification. The past 18 months were difficult times for Thailand, forcing the country to seek support from both familiar and unfamiliar friends. Washington has a lot of catching up to do.

Closer to home, Thailand has excellent relations and a secure strategic environment in the region with neighbouring countries. The recent nationwide ceasefire in Myanmar, albeit an incomplete one, has greatly boosted border security as it effectively ended the deep-rooted mutual mistrust over the past 50-plus years. Key armed ethnic groups along the Burmese border were among the eight signatories. The Thai National Security Council has been providing logistical support for the numerous meetings between Nay Pyi Taw and armed ethnic groups over the past two and half years. To acknowledge its positive contribution, Thailand was invited to witness the signing of the peace deal last Thursday. Thailand is also hoping the ongoing peace process in the south will produce a similar result.

Ironically, while Thai-US ties are sliding, Thailand's regional position has dramatically surged. The arrival of the Asean Community at the end of this year will further promote the Kingdom's pivotal role in the scheming of the US "rebalancing" in Asia; without Thailand, the four-year-old strategy will not work. At this juncture, the Thai-US alliance has reached a crossroads as the Thai armed forces are reviewing its obligations and usefulness, given the prevailing strategic situation in the region.

Without a clear threat as in the Cold War coming from the communist bloc, coupled with the new Thai security perception since last May, the necessity for an alliance in finding less supporting voices among policy-makers, especially in the middle echelon. They want to see an emerging regional security structure that is more multilateral and Asean focused. Simply put, any country that ignores Thailand does so at its own peril.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Welcome-to-Thailands-diplomatic-jamboree-30271147.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-19

[Praematura]

Thailand the West has been crystal clear about the imperative to return to actual democracy not the bs your planning with this re-writing charter that we all know is not democratic. Who is this article written for? Individuals with a scintilla of intelligence can see this is propaganda with zero basis in reality. It's in English so maybe this is the translated version printed for domestic consumption.

I do like the subtle threat of the West engaging with Thailand's enemies? Yea because your geopolitical importance now is squat.

[deckape]

That was confusing.

[GinBoy2]

Well that was one of The Nation's more baffling and illogical pieces of rambling ,'journalism'

[NongKhaiKid]

i wonder if the admiral was told that after the jamboree he didn't have to worry about making a statement to the media about how it went as the Thai govt would take care of that for him ?

[Toknarok]

Quote....Thai officials slammed their Western friends for failing to understand domestic dynamics and its moderate human rights record.

Wrong Thailand's 'former' friends fully understand what is going on domestically in Thailand, and no your human rights record isn't 'moderate', it's APPALLING.

Edited October 18, 2015 by Toknarok

[NongKhaiKid]

i wonder if the admiral was told that after the jamboree he didn't have to worry about making a statement to the media about how it went as the Thai govt would take care of that for h

[LomSak27]

Bangkok's failure to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council last year was a blow to national pride. In private, Thai officials slammed their Western friends for failing to understand domestic dynamics and its moderate human rights record.

Translation: Thai officials are in a prolonged hissy fit because of something that was known to all. Western Governments are not going to accept and sing hosannas about the Junta and "new domestic dynamic". This was known back in 2006, could be expected in the wake of May 2014 takeover, yet still they cry a river about this. If only they UNDERSTOOD. About time Thailand understood the rest of the world ...

The human rights rap ... the refugee/worker fishing enslavement has been going on for how many years yet again the world does not understand and so no human rights council seat.

Why is always the rest of the world that does not understand?

Edited October 18, 2015 by LomSak27

[Praematura]

Bangkok's failure to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council last year was a blow to national pride. In private, Thai officials slammed their Western friends for failing to understand domestic dynamics and its moderate human rights record.

Translation: Thai officials are in a prolonged hissy fit because of something that was known to all. Western Governments are not going to accept and sing hosannas about the Junta and "new domestic dynamic". This was known back in 2006, could be expected in the wake of May 2014 takeover, yet still they cry a river about this. If only they UNDERSTOOD. About time Thailand understood the rest of the world ...

The human rights rap ... the refugee/worker fishing enslavement has been going on for how many years yet again the world does not understand and so no human rights council seat.

Why is always the rest of the world that does not understand?

You do realize the UN Human Rights Council is a clown car and has much worse members like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Russia and China? Funny how Thailand has zero geopolitical importance and isn't given a pass anymore after the "threat" of communism diminished.

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/CurrentMembers.aspx

Edited October 18, 2015 by Praematura

[LomSak27]

So in spite of the recent ugliness, broadcast worldwide, regarding the slave/refugee/shanghaied fishing fleet, the graves at the jungle camps near the southern border, Thailand should be allowed on because, other ugly countries have been on the human rights council..

Outstanding! One Tip top argument.

How about an encore?

Edited October 19, 2015 by LomSak27

[noosard]

Thought USA had more than 5 allies in the Asia-Pacific region

[Always18]

"Simply put, any country that ignores Thailand does so at it's own peril"

Quite laughable.............................

[waldroj]

Haven't got the 3 subs yet, but already this nationalist twit is threatening the rest of the world!

Ravi, stick to your criticism of the junta. Better still, go read Leonard Wibberley's "The Mouse that Roared".

[phoenixdoglover]

In other news today,: Wind Shifts, Weather Vane Follows

[heybruce]

That was confusing.

Well that was one of The Nation's more baffling and illogical pieces of rambling ,'journalism'

It's quite simple--Thailand hasn't received a public rebuke from the international community for a few weeks so that means everyone is crawling back to the junta begging to be friends.

[Redline]

Yes, the West made a big mistake upsetting this new world power. Everyone in ASEAN is looking to Thailand to lead them~especially Singapore. The US pivot will never work without Thailand. Growth in Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar are is much stronger. GDP Thailand=$374 billion GDP of Ohio=$601 billion

[jayboy]

Kavi writes in the article that the invitation to Admiral Ancona had nothing to do with the British Ambassador ,Mark Kent who is unpopular with Junta fans.

The ambassador has however now tweeted:

@KentBKK: Surprised to read this - I invited Admiral Ancona to visit as part of our wide ongoing relationship with Thailand.

http://t.co/4Ep82FKG6l

In diplomatic speak this means the absurd Kavi is either ignorant or a liar.