Foreign Affairs

bemildred

(90,061 posts) Thu Mar 12, 2015, 10:44 AM Mar 2015

Thai Coup Alienates US Giving China New Opening

BANGKOK: Throughout US global wars against communism, drugs and terrorism, Thailand has been an indispensable strategic partner. But the recent sharp deterioration in ties was evident in January when Thailand’s Foreign Ministry summoned the top US diplomat in Bangkok to register displeasure over the State Department’s critical comments about the country’s military rule. As the erstwhile allies drift apart, China has moved to fill the gap with economic and strategic overtures aimed at countering the US pivot policy towards Asia.

Thailand’s official rebuke stemmed from a January 26 public speech delivered by Daniel Russel, assistant US secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. In remarks to a Bangkok university audience, Russel raised concerns about a lack of “inclusiveness” in the military government’s so-called political reform drive and maintenance of martial law more than eight months after seizing power in a democracy-suspending coup.

The US has been a consistent critic since then army commander, now prime minister, General Prayuth Chan-ocha ousted Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government in May. Prayuth has since vowed to restore democracy after the passage of a new constitution and wide-ranging reform. Critics muted under martial law view the process as a charade to sustain the military’s political role.

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/thai-coup-alienates-us-giving-china-new-opening

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Thai Coup Alienates US Giving China New Opening (Original Post) bemildred Mar 2015 OP

Mass impeachment action launched against former Thai MPs jakeXT Mar 2015 #1

Yeah, it's going to put a hitch in our gitalong there. nt bemildred Mar 2015 #3

Thailand is ruled by corrupt businessmen and their military partners from the South, v. the North. Fred Sanders Mar 2015 #2

jakeXT

(10,575 posts)

1. Mass impeachment action launched against former Thai MPs

Reply to bemildred (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2015, 05:07 AM

Mar 2015

Thailand’s anti-corruption body on Thursday launched impeachment proceedings against 250 ex-lawmakers, the majority from the toppled ruling party of Yingluck Shinawatra, in a move that could be a bodyblow to her family’s political network.

If the junta-picked National Legislative Assembly (NLA) votes for impeachment the former MPs will be banned from politics for five years, eviscerating the political base of the Shinawatra clan whose parties have swept every Thai election since 2001.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission says a 2013 attempt by Yingluck’s Peau Thai party to tweak the kingdom’s charter to make the upper house a fully elected chamber was unconstitutional.

“The NACC decided to file case to the NLA to impeach 250 MPs who signed up to support charter amendment because they intended to breach the 2007 constitution,” the anti-graft body said in a statement.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/13/mass-impeachment-action-launched-against-former-thai-mps

Converting U-Tapao into a commercial airport would piss some people off

The 2014 coup threatens to derail the traditionally strong U.S.-Thai security relationship and
could disrupt trade and investment links as well. Military-to-military cooperation has been robust
in terms of security assistance, training, and military exercises, and Thailand provides access to
strategically key facilities such as the Utapao air base. The United States has suspended security
assistance funds, and the rationale for maintaining the defense relationship may falter in the face
of the military’s record of overthrowing democratically elected leaders. On the other hand,
Thailand’s strategic position and the U.S. emphasis on ASEAN as a multilateral platform for
engaging the Asia Pacific region are strong motivations for continuing the partnership. Thailand
maintains close relations with China and is considered by some to be a key arena of competition
between Beijing and Washington for influence. Given its internal unrest, Bangkok’s ability to be a
regional leader is uncertain.

http://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32593.pdf

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

3. Yeah, it's going to put a hitch in our gitalong there. nt

Reply to jakeXT (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 13, 2015, 07:25 PM

Mar 2015

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)

2. Thailand is ruled by corrupt businessmen and their military partners from the South, v. the North.

Reply to bemildred (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2015, 01:50 PM

Mar 2015

Too bad....beautiful country with beautiful people...and each time there is a democratic government elected that leans to the more populous North it gets overthrown by the same old crowd, who play the same old game.

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