Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis

By The Nation

 

Though the White House visit is on hold, Tillerson’s arrival here might explain what Trump wants Thailand to do

 

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s planned official visit to the White House appears to have been postponed to a later date due to a number of factors.

 

The premier had at the end of April spoken by phone with US President Donald Trump and received an invitation to visit the US, tentatively sometime in late July, but the trip was put off, with both leaders initially claiming to be too busy with domestic matters.

 

North Korea is at or close to the top of Trump’s agenda when it comes to Asia, especially in the face of Pyongyang’s continued defiance concerning its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile programme.

 

Beijing has come under pressure to rein in its neighbour, with Trump threatening to play the economic card against China unless it helps the US manage North Korea.

 

Regarding Southeast Asia, leaders of several countries, including Vietnam and Singapore, have already had meetings with Trump. The Vietnamese prime minister visited the White House in late May and Singapore’s premier held a bilateral meeting with Trump in Germany on July 8 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

 

Trump extended his invitation for the Thai leader to visit the White House in late April, at the same time the leaders of Singapore and the Philippines were invited.

 

In fact, Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations are also under increasing pressure to step up sanctions against North Korea, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson due to deliver the message personally while visiting Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines next week.

 

In this context, Thailand should be reluctant to embrace the US strategy in managing the North Korean issue, since the country currently has full diplomatic relations with both South and North Korea. Strong action against the North would also hurt Thailand’s relations with China.

 

This sensitive issue is probably one of the key factors contributing to the postponement of Prime Minister Prayut’s planned visit the US.

 

For Prayut, the White House invitation is a good opportunity to boost his non-elected government’s popularity while re-balancing Thailand’s relations with the major powers.

 

But he must be careful in handling the re-balancing act vis-a-vis Thailand’s relations with China, which improved significantly following the 2014 coup.

 

Aside from the North Korean issue, the US also aims to restore its previous pre-eminent role in Southeast Asia beyond the context of regional security, given that rival China has established a strong foothold in the economic front over the past few decades.

 

Ironically, the Barack Obama administration banked on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) comprehensive trade and economic deal in a bid to restore US prominence in this part of the world, but Trump did an about-face and withdrew the US from the pact. The absence of a powerful vehicle like the TPP framework will likely make US efforts to rally Asian support against North Korea more challenging.

 

As far as economic and trade deals are concerned, Thailand and other countries will have to start anew on the type of bilateral approach favoured by the wheeler-dealer Trump.

 

Thailand’s trade surplus with the US was an issue raised by the Trump administration, which singled out 16 countries said to have had unfair trade practices with the US.

 

What comes next remains to be seen, but Thailand could now be mixed into the US strategy of containing North Korea, which Washington regards as Asia’s “rogue state”.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30322738

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-04

[ChrisY1]

A bit testing for the puppet general......will be interesting to see how this goes down.....to please China or please the US?

But I guess as most know, when he opens his mouth and speaks, he'll be talking fake talk!

[edwinchester]

The headline says the General has a role to play in the crisis and then the whole article reads that he has zero influence on what is happening.

[steven100]

I am sure the General knows how to handle any concerns the US may have with how Thailand can assist in the North Korea problem.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha speaks his mind as he did at the UN assembly in the US.

I doubt the US will have very little if anything on it's agenda concerning Thailand & North Korea.

[Artisi]

What a load of absolute BS, Prayut has a role to play, the only play when it comes to N Korea will be playing with himself. 

[YetAnother]

12 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

The headline says the General has a role to play in the crisis and then the whole article reads that he has zero influence on what is happening.

thailand is Such a small player , if at all, in this

[Cadbury]

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha speaks his mind as he did at the UN assembly in the US.

Yes the Big Cheese Chan-o-cha certainly spoke his mind at the UN Assembly. Problem was hardly anyone bothered turning up to listen to him. The place was almost empty.

If he does anything at all I think he will write and recite an ode to his hero Kim Jong-in. Seems he is developing his militaristic and heavy censorship government on the North Korea model.

[Orton Rd]

Thailand trying to big itself up as an international player, looks a bit desperate.

[Lupatria]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis

...like a 10 year old has a role to play in a World Boxing Association (WBA) ring.

[rkidlad]

Quickest way to get someone with an ego to do what you want is make them feel important and special. Give them a made-up badge and title and tell them "Your role is very important here, buddy". Pat them on the head and make them feel special. Then the adults can get on with the real business.

[NCC1701A]

i think Thailand is going to be asked to use their vintage 1970 fighters to lead the attack on North Korea.

 

sort of a diversion so the North Korean's can feel special too because they will have something they can actually shoot down.  

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s planned official visit to the White House appears to have been postponed to a later date due to a number of factors.

 

Trump not quite sure of Thailand's importance being number one I guess

[binjalin]

45 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I am sure the General knows how to handle any concerns the US may have with how Thailand can assist in the North Korea problem.

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha speaks his mind as he did at the UN assembly in the US.

I doubt the US will have very little if anything on it's agenda concerning Thailand & North Korea.

Yes it was packed to standing room only

[steven100]

Just now, binjalin said:

Yes it was packed to standing room only

well maybe you could do a better job .....  but i doubt it ...      lol

[binjalin]

[binjalin]

Just now, steven100 said:

well maybe you could do a better job .....  but i doubt it ...      lol

No I could not but an ELECTED leader might. Frankly your puppy love for Prayut is sickening.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Yeah right! He has done such a fantastic job solving the problems in the south and with the so called "reconciliation" between the Red shirts and the elite - Yellow shirts.

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis

 

Clueless spectator?

[poohy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis

 God help us all!!!!

 

we're doomed!

[JAG]

Thailand's"role" in dealing with North Korea?

Possibly a vaguely usefully runway, but then there are plenty of them dotted around South East Asia...

[Juan B Tong]

[over it]

39 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Thailand trying to big itself up as an international player, looks a bit desperate.

I read an article entitled; "Is Thailand ready for the world stage?" The obvious answer is.....

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

21 minutes ago, steven100 said:

well maybe you could do a better job .....  but i doubt it ...      lol

He cant draw a crowd even if he pays people to turn up.

[soalbundy]

He's been told to threaten Kim with a song

[Golgota]

I heard he is going to write a song for them to cool down

[worgeordie]

I think its N.Korean influence on Thailand, here they seem to be copying

what happens there,with strict media clampdown,and the Government

trying to control its population,increasing its stocks of war weapons.

 

regards worgeordie

 

[BarnicaleBob]

Thailand has been America's partner in many international affairs over the years, including sending troops to fight in the Vietnam and Korean Wars and still maintaining a small presence in South Korea.  However, if Prayut were to ever meet Trump in person, I'm sure klutz Trump would say the wrong thing to him without even realizing he was insulting Prayut.  Both countries will be better off if the two never meet. 

Edited August 4, 2017 by BarnicaleBob

[KIWIBATCH]

Yep..he has a role to play...just simply invoke Article 44 on North Korea...and everything will be okay

[geriatrickid]

Thailand does  have an important role: It can put an end to North Korea using Thailand as a safe haven for its operations and as a transaction venue.

[natway09]

No, please do  not let him or any ASEAN country  meddle with this one. Way over their heads.

They could though try to get a quorum on the South China Sea debacle which so far they cannot even manage 

the trouble is "itchy pockets " with China