Sea Change Awaits Trump in Thailand

By Benjamin Zawacki

 

Kingdom can no longer be counted on in a confrontation with China

 

BANGKOK: -- Three months after his election, a month after inauguration, Donald Trump has not publicly mentioned Thailand.  Yet in a looming foreign policy crisis over the South China Sea, the seeds of which the president partly inherited and has partly sowed, the kingdom is poised to play an outsized and oppositional role. 

 

China has territorial disputes over the South China Sea with five Southeast Asian nations and a sixth with Taiwan.  In July 2016, a UN maritime tribunal ruled China’s means of demarcating territory unlawful.  Beijing’s defiance notwithstanding, this ruling put most of China’s claims on shaky legal ground, to say nothing of its 3,000 acres of artificial islands constructed since 2013.

 

As candidate, Trump used the presidential debates to deliver an economic indictment against China—manufacturing threat, currency manipulator, climate change propagandist—and announced plans to increase the US Navy’s fleet from 272 to 350 ships.  If the China claims were aimed at viewers and votes, the naval announcement was likely the more clearly heard in Beijing.

 

Full story: http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/donald-trump-thailand/

 

-- asia sentinel 2017-02-27

Good John Pilger documentary about the coming war with China, could get messy in SE Asia. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Donald Trump has not publicly mentioned Thailand.

He campaigned hard and was elected.  Thailand's "leadership" has nothing in common with him, and why would he or any other elected official acknowledge the junta.  They have little standing outside of Thailand.

why would President Trump even think about Thailand? there is nothing here as far as and Armed Force is concerned. perhaps some of his people still remember Thailands role in WW-2 with the Japanese.

someone in Thailand feels left out.  they want a story... a movie or whatever that includes Thailand in it.. along with their surrogate.. Trump... okay... here we go.... a special Hollywood blockbuster movie for Thailand expats.... 

 

Ronald Reagan (raised from The Dead):  let's go to war.  hooaahhh!!!!

 

then the movie switches.... to somewhere in the now permanently ice free Artic... in less than 10 years....

hey you, Robert Peary. forget the sled and snow doggies. and.... when you get to the pole.... wave to Sarah Palin... who can see you from her house! (isn't she great!!!!)
 

then... back to GOP land.. starring Donald Trump!!!
 

Tweet:  let's use Thailand as a base to attack China.

yeahhh!!!!  hoooaaaahhh!!!!!

 

wanna guess who wins? (in the Hollywood movie).








 

Edited February 27, 20179 yr by maewang99

56 minutes ago, captspectre said:

why would President Trump even think about Thailand? there is nothing here as far as and Armed Force is concerned. perhaps some of his people still remember Thailands role in WW-2 with the Japanese.

Thailand's police and military combined can't even capture a temple what possible good would they be in an actual war?

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

He campaigned hard and was elected.  Thailand's "leadership" has nothing in common with him, and why would he or any other elected official acknowledge the junta.  They have little standing outside of Thailand.

Donald Trump probably thinks Thailand is the place where the decorations for his shirts are made.. 

PM is the strongman leader type that Trump seems to like.

 

Trump would be envious at how the PM controls the Press and political opposition.   Trump would be right at home with the gold plated "Bling" enjoyed by the moneyed Hi-So set he would be a member of by default.  He would enjoy the status and attention that throwing some money at Monks and Wats would bring him.  If his Mercedes runs over a peasant on a motorbike, don't even have to stop or say sorry, just have someone deliver a few million Baht to the family with a card and flowers.   The smiling, plastic Hi-So's would line up to be his fake buddy, and hit little white balls around expansive golf courses in the middle of a drought, whilst dipping into the back 9 bar for a quickee oral massage from an unusually young, attractive Burmese "caddie".

 

Nope, I think Trump would get on well here.

Edited February 27, 20179 yr by 55Jay

1 hour ago, captspectre said:

why would President Trump even think about Thailand? there is nothing here as far as and Armed Force is concerned. perhaps some of his people still remember Thailands role in WW-2 with the Japanese.

WW-2 was a long time ago. It is more relevant to remember Thailand's role during the Vietnam War

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

He campaigned hard and was elected.  Thailand's "leadership" has nothing in common with him, and why would he or any other elected official acknowledge the junta.  They have little standing outside of Thailand.

Strange this peculiar notion that Trump lies awake at night just worried sick about Thailand and where they stand on anything, including the S. China Sea.   (And I suspect the same of most other world leaders.)

45 minutes ago, ResandePohm said:

 It is more relevant to remember Thailand's role during the Vietnam War

Great place for a soldier's R&R.

He don't know where Thailand is as he has not seen it or heard it mentioned on Fox News perhaps

1 hour ago, 55Jay said:

PM is the strongman leader type that Trump seems to like.

 

Trump would be envious at how the PM controls the Press and political opposition.   Trump would be right at home with the gold plated "Bling" enjoyed by the moneyed Hi-So set he would be a member of by default.  He would enjoy the status and attention that throwing some money at Monks and Wats would bring him.  If his Mercedes runs over a peasant on a motorbike, don't even have to stop or say sorry, just have someone deliver a few million Baht to the family with a card and flowers.   The smiling, plastic Hi-So's would line up to be his fake buddy, and hit little white balls around expansive golf courses in the middle of a drought, whilst dipping into the back 9 bar for a quickee oral massage from an unusually young, attractive Burmese "caddie".

 

Nope, I think Trump would get on well here.

 

Generally, I think you have a good point. However, I think the moneyed hi-so fairies in LOS will not just make Trump a member by default, he will be their new 'esteemed leader'. Hail the new King of Bling and Master of Vulgarity.

2 hours ago, ResandePohm said:

WW-2 was a long time ago. It is more relevant to remember Thailand's role during the Vietnam War

They got their money for their involvement. It didn't come free.

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Great place for a soldier's R&R.

 

Yes - and from where did B-52's fly to drop shitloads of bombs on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia? I have a vague memory it was Udon Thani and U-Tapao... Worked then, because neither country could defend themselves against that back then. If that were to happen today against China, you could kiss your ass good-bye faster than you can say "oh <deleted>" - them boys got mighty rockets...

6 hours ago, Suttisan said:

Good John Pilger documentary about the coming war with China, could get messy in SE Asia. 

Link?

 

Don't worry. Thailand has always been adept at the soft-shoe shuffle and playing both ends against the middle. That's how it has avoided becoming a colony of any major imperial power (unless you count the relatively short occupation by the Japanese in order to build the Thai link of the Burma railway during WW2).

 

The new lot running the show here are just as slippery as their predecessors.

Edited February 27, 20179 yr by Krataiboy

DT is too busy trying to form his own kingdom

8 hours ago, Suttisan said:

Good John Pilger documentary about the coming war with China, could get messy in SE Asia. 

I feel its coming to. Its all a case of if us old timers will be watching from above the ground or below. I seem to think that Thailand is playing both sides against the middle with a slight bias in China's favor. 65-35

Edited February 27, 20179 yr by elgordo38

5 hours ago, Thechook said:

Thailand's police and military combined can't even capture a temple what possible good would they be in an actual war?

Cannon Fodder

12 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

I feel its coming to. Its all a case of if us old timers will be watching from above the ground or below. I seem to think that Thailand is playing both sides against the middle with a slight bias in China's favor. 65-35

 

I think that slight bias is about right. Probably because China is more 'accepting' of Thailand than the US since the 'takeover'. Mind you, both the US and China are probably blue from laughing but perhaps China does a better job at keeping a straight face when it matters. The Chinese also have wads of cash to invest and as we all know, Thailand (and most countries in this region, actually) are not blind to that fact.

1 minute ago, outsider said:

The Chinese also have wads of cash to invest and as we all know, Thailand (and most countries in this region, actually) are not blind to that fact.

This statement hits the nail on the head. They are investing all around the planet mostly to impoverished countries with their backs against the wall to numerous to count. The citizenry of said countries are being enslaved and taught the Chinese "method" low wages no benefits long hours and as in Greece on the docks your on call 24/7/365. They have stuck the words "The New Silk Road" to this project trying to turn a pigs ear into a silk purse but if you drill through it its just exportation/exploitation of the way China runs China. Its the old talk softly and carry a big stick (their checkbook) approach. Governments soon knuckle under to this Red juggernaut and sell out their citizenry. Political wh***s to the end. 

5 hours ago, 55Jay said:

PM is the strongman leader type that Trump seems to like.

 

Trump would be envious at how the PM controls the Press and political opposition.   Trump would be right at home with the gold plated "Bling" enjoyed by the moneyed Hi-So set he would be a member of by default.  He would enjoy the status and attention that throwing some money at Monks and Wats would bring him.  If his Mercedes runs over a peasant on a motorbike, don't even have to stop or say sorry, just have someone deliver a few million Baht to the family with a card and flowers.   The smiling, plastic Hi-So's would line up to be his fake buddy, and hit little white balls around expansive golf courses in the middle of a drought, whilst dipping into the back 9 bar for a quickee oral massage from an unusually young, attractive Burmese "caddie".

 

Nope, I think Trump would get on well here.

trump most likely has never heard of the PM and if he did, couldn't care less about the buffoon. Thailand is more than capable and well on their way to destruction, they don't need ANY help, and far too thick headed to take good advice.

Edited February 27, 20179 yr by bangkok101

I leave you with a quote from the last American Ambassador to China.

“China has a long-term strategy to build up its own champion industries, for its own benefit and to the detriment of other countries,” he said. “The United States should stand up a lot more with respect to China’s economic wall, let alone the Internet wall.”

33 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

Governments soon knuckle under to this Red juggernaut and sell out their citizenry. Political wh***s to the end. 

 

If you followed Malaysian politics, you'd notice that Malaysia has already started 'selling itself' to the Chinese.

Just now, outsider said:

 

If you followed Malaysian politics, you'd notice that Malaysia has already started 'selling itself' to the Chinese.

Yes they all are. They are even setting up factories in the US conforming to Chinese standards uniforms company ra ra ra moments. $15 an hour. Great jobs Donald keep em coming. 

6 hours ago, maewang99 said:

someone in Thailand feels left out.  they want a story... a movie or whatever that includes Thailand in it.. along with their surrogate.. Trump... okay... here we go.... a special Hollywood blockbuster movie for Thailand expats.... 

 

Ronald Reagan (raised from The Dead):  let's go to war.  hooaahhh!!!!

 

then the movie switches.... to somewhere in the now permanently ice free Artic... in less than 10 years....

hey you, Robert Peary. forget the sled and snow doggies. and.... when you get to the pole.... wave to Sarah Palin... who can see you from her house! (isn't she great!!!!)
 

then... back to GOP land.. starring Donald Trump!!!
 

Tweet:  let's use Thailand as a base to attack China.

yeahhh!!!!  hoooaaaahhh!!!!!

 

wanna guess who wins? (in the Hollywood movie).
 

 

I was watching the awards this morning and was sure LaLa Land would have been a documentary about Thailand.

Thailand's links to China is in the form of heritage, financial investment and more recently mass tourism. Their links with the US are far more tenuous.  When choosing sides it is a no brainer, they will go with China.

Misread the headline - I thought it said Sex change awaits Donald Trump in Thailand!

 

Golly I thought, that will put the cat amongst the pigeons!

It is strange that atm Vietnam would be the closest thing to an Ally in SE.Asia. Thailand, Lao, Cambodia , Phillipines, Malaysia an Indonesia as well as many small Pacific Nations being wooed by the Chinese. Sadly Trumps xenophobic Policies are alienating traditional Allies.

4 minutes ago, Kiwiken said:

It is strange that atm Vietnam would be the closest thing to an Ally in SE.Asia. Thailand, Lao, Cambodia , Phillipines, Malaysia an Indonesia as well as many small Pacific Nations being wooed by the Chinese. Sadly Trumps xenophobic Policies are alienating traditional Allies.

I wouldn't be too sure about Vietnam.  Most influential Vietnamese are of Chinese descent and the ties with China have been strengthening.  China has the economic power and influence in the region and they will call the shots (sorry about the pun).