Junta policies ‘must balance China, US’

[webfact]

Junta policies ‘must balance China, US’
By WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

 

 

Trump government unlikely to pressure Thailand on democratisation.

 

 

BANGKOK: -- WHILE the emergence of a new US administration under billionaire Donald Trump will not put serious pressure on the Thai military government regarding democratisation, diplomats and experts have urged the regime to balance ties between Washington and Beijing.

 

Thai-US bilateral relations, which mark their 184th anniversary this year, have been relatively sour since the 2014 coup against the elected civilian government. The outgoing administration of Barack Obama pushed the junta hard on politics and rights, plus suspended some military assistance.

 

With Trump scheduled to take office on Friday, very little still has been spelt out about his prospective policies towards Asean, let alone Thailand in particular.

 

Diplomats said a clearer picture would not emerge until the Trump administration appoints the most senior official who oversees East Asia affairs. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30304197

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-16

[zaphod reborn]

Trump can't be bothered with details of insignificant countries.  He'll let Putin make US policy towards ASEAN.

[maxcorrigan]

5 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Trump can't be bothered with details of insignificant countries.  He'll let Putin make US policy towards ASEAN.

Insignificant! good God, don't let uncle tuu hear you say that, he's trying to convince kids that Thai language will supercede English in a few years,i think one of your heads needs a bit of AA (attitude adjustment) i need another singha quick!

[Docno]

5 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

" Trump government unlikely to pressure Thailand on democratisation."

 

This entire story is BS.  WASAMON AUDJARINT  is a moron.

Can you be more specific as to why you think the story is BS? You call the writer a moron, but he is mostly quoting academics and diplomats ... does that make him a moron. And which prediction/assertion do you take issue with?

 

[Docno]

58 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Trump can't be bothered with details of insignificant countries.  He'll let Putin make US policy towards ASEAN.

And I'd bet that he could not even tell you what 'ASEAN' stands for....

[Docno]

Let's all be honest here. Compared to Obama, Trump would almost certainly get along better with people like Duterte, Hun Sen, and our own dear leader. They all seem to share some character traits, outlooks, and values ('shooting from the hip', rejecting political correctness, and enjoying the taste of one's foot in one's mouth). That could be good for these countries--where leaders have good personal relationships and mutual respect for each other--but it also reduces the chances that a Trump administration will push for human rights improvements, democratisation, etc.

[lingbar]

6 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

" Trump government unlikely to pressure Thailand on democratisation."

 

This entire story is BS.  WASAMON AUDJARINT  is a moron.

 

The evidence you present in rebuttal is overwhelming...

[Dan747]

It will be very interesting in the next few years since the Junta has already played the China/Russian card with Military Logistic purchases of Tanks, a Submarine, etc. 

 

[lvr181]

"....the regime to balance ties between Washington and Beijing."  If countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia (and others) are concerned about China's territorial claims in the South China sea, then Thailand had better realise they should not be upsetting their neighbours by being obviously too pro towards China. 

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, Docno said:

Can you be more specific as to why you think the story is BS? You call the writer a moron, but he is mostly quoting academics and diplomats ... does that make him a moron. And which prediction/assertion do you take issue with?

 

Yes lets be more civilized saying we "disagree with the fellow" than calling him a moron. We are all adults here I think. As far as balance goes I think the junta has been tipped more in China's direction but then I never had much experience with scales. Parts of the world are polarizing and I think this will continue. 

[FitnessHealthTravel]

Beijing will pick up the scraps where ever they lay...

[727Sky]

Rex Tillerson

 

During testimony of his conformation hearings said he was all for a military blockade to block China from its' newly build islands and to keep the south China sea open for everyone; kinda like the Cuban blockade in the sixties .  Needless to say China was not pleased.

 

The whole South China sea issue is not going away and unless someone backs down it will get serious before it gets better IMO.

 

What a <deleted> waste if a real shooting war starts.

[bitcoinforever]

Thailand is getting worry about trump because if thailand gets to closer to china trump will tax them just like china and Thailand second largest trading partner is trump. so they have to balance china now and not get to close or risk trump's wrath which would hurt this economy hard. Obama may have talked tough on military government but trade continued even increase but not now under trump ,if he does not like the thai's using slaves in fishing 35% tax on all seafood, they would stop slave labor overnight. Thailand <deleted>---- Trump can buy seafood from anyone else that gets inline, good luck world new sheriff new town