webfact Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinchester Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artisi Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orton Rd Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Thailand trying to big itself up as an international player, looks a bit desperate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupatria Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkidlad Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCC1701A Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binjalin Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binjalin Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binjalin Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiSoLowSoNoSo Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobredin Ghusputin Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 4 hours ago, webfact said: Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis Clueless spectator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohy Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 4 hours ago, webfact said: Prayut has role to play in North Korean crisis God help us all!!!! we're doomed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan B Tong Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
over it Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHERNSTAR Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 He's been told to threaten Kim with a song Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golgota Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I heard he is going to write a song for them to cool down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worgeordie Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnicaleBob Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIWIBATCH Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 Yep..he has a role to play...just simply invoke Article 44 on North Korea...and everything will be okay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatrickid Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natway09 Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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