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From CNN:

Thailand edges closer to China

By JULIAN GEARING

Wednesday, May 23, 2001

Web posted at 05:25 p.m. Hong Kong time, 05:25 a.m. GMT

Last week Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji dropped in to Bangkok for a four-day visit, the last stop in an 11-day Asian nation tour. On the agenda: trade, credit, illegal drugs and aid for Bangkok's infrastructure. Nothing surprising in that. Thailand has long had good relations with the Chinese communist leadership going back decades. Zhu, despite his usually glum demeanor, presented an amiable face for his 1.2 billion-strong Asian nation. And his smile was noted.

Yet it is worth stopping to consider the timing. Only the day before Zhu arrived, the United States invited Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to visit Washington. With the Americans' problems in Asia, Thailand has suddenly become important again to Washington. That's particularly notable given fears - rightly or wrongly - that Bangkok's foreign investment and diplomatic policies might be changing to the detriment of the U.S.

The timing matters in Thailand. Shinawatra does not appear to be so ready to accept the U.S.-China balance of power that saw Washington as Asia's policeman and China as merely a friendly neighbor. Judging by Zhu's visit, a "family visit with relatives" as he put it, Bangkok's relationship with Beijing is stronger than it has ever been.

Now you "anti-Red" alarmists out there, don't get perturbed. Thailand is not about to become "a protectorate of China," as one wit in Bangkok quipped. The strengthening relationship between the two countries offers both of them advantages in trade, investment and cultural exchange. It's been happening in an ongoing manner and is not just linked to the new Thai government. Hey, Bangkok residents might even benefit from the move to get Shanghai, rather than Thai, construction companies to build extensions to the skytrain. And the only Chinese "invasion" Thailand is likely to see is more and more busloads of mainland tourists - and most likely some more illegal immigrants.

But as China opens up, the impact of its growing relationship with Bangkok needs watching. Business, trade, investment? Fine. Yet there is increasing concern about the "big brother" attitude of China towards Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Cambodia and Myanmar.

There are fears China is leaning on Bangkok, and has been for some time. The Thais recently kowtowed to Beijing by pressuring members of the Falangong cult to drop plans to hold an international meeting in the Land of Smiles. The Sino-Thai business community suddenly came out publicly in force to back Beijing on that one. Then there was Zhu's complaint that Thai politicians were visiting "renegade" Taiwan. Sorry, Zhu, said the Thai senators. We can't stop our lawmakers going to Taipei. This is a free country. But is it?

The U.S. is losing its foothold in Asia and China is moving in to fill the vacuum. According to Thai experts, Beijing seeks to increase its influence and control over Southeast Asia, and the Chinese only understand the wisdom of force. If the whispered allegations are to be believed, Beijing is "interfering" with the Thai military, the police, the business community, even educational institutions. And politicians? Some Thai and western businessmen have privately voiced fears that the new Thai government may shift away from the long-standing alliance with the U.S. towards a stronger relationship with Beijing, partly due to the clout of the Sino-Thai business community, but also because the new Thai leadership feels more comfortable with their Asian brethren.

All this needs to be brought up now so that all Thais fully understand the direction in which their country is being taken. Let's get this straight: For Bangkok, having good relations with Beijing makes as much sense as having good relations with Washington. No argument there. But Thailand should neither become the lapdog of Beijing nor of Washington. Thais in positions of power do not appear to be as cautious as the Vietnamese when it comes to dealing with China. The troubled 1,000-year history of Vietnamese involvement with their giant neighbor has taught them to tread carefully. Thais do not have that legacy. Thailand is a proud nation, never colonized. Perish the thought that one day their country might be "sold out" to a bigger and more powerful neighbor. Thailand "a protectorate of China?" You're kidding, right?

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The official "historical" maps of the PRC show that Thailand only became independent from China in 1904, under a joint UK-Froggish protectorate. Show that map to a few nationalist Thai newspapers and watch the sparks fly.

p.s. Thailand has had a close relationship for decades??? You mean in the Korean War, when the Thai Army sent the first UN units to help the US and ROCs? Or maybe during the VN War, when the Thai Army fought the commies in III Corps for years? Plus the ordinary Thai doesn't even like Chinese-Thai, let alone Beijing pinkos.

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DB..."Worst mistake the US ever made was in not arming the Nationalists. ?"

Nope, worst mistake was not nuken em before they became such a critical component of the world economy...can you imagine a world without Hello Kitty plastic backpacks, cheap shower clogs, mini stereos, North Face tents and SKS rifles?...O the horror!

[ May 24, 2001: Message edited by: Wildalaska ]

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The Red China believes that most if not all Asia belongs to them. I hope they don't have territorial plans for LOS. If Thailand officials are smart, they would play both West and East side of the game to their advantage. I don't believe a predominantly Western relation would be in their best interest, nor would be a predominantly Eastern relation. smile.gif" border="0

[ May 25, 2001: Message edited by: zigfreed ]

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The ChiComms believe most of Asia is their territory or a PRC "protectorate".

Chicomms are the 800 lb (364 kilos) gorilla.

They can pretty well sit were ever they want.

Other then the USA, who else will stand up to them? crazy.gif" border="0

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I personally think the only thing stopping a major war involving the chinese is the interdependency of the world's economies.....

These days war is not good for business....

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AlaskanSage,

That is our best hope. The interdependency of the worlds economies will hopefully prevent a major war.

Then again war has never been good for biz and politicians have been known to do some very stupid things.

Just look at the history of the last century.

crazy.gif" border="0

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Zigfreed raises a good point about China's attitude towards Asia.

Consider the name of the country itself - "China" is the name we use for this country, based on the name of the first emperor who unified the country. The Chinese call their own country "Zhong-Guo" - 2 ideographs, the first meaning middle or centre, the second meaning country or nation.

The Chinese have historically seen China as the middle of culture, civilization, political and military power, etc. This was basically true up until a few hundred years ago.

The Chinese are aware, on an intellectual level, that their position in the world is not different than before. But on a more emotional level, their is a feeling among them that they ought to be the "Middle Kingdom". Their current situation is one that should be corrected. They don't expect this to happen tomorrow, next year, or even in their lifetime, but they have faith that someday they will be on top again.

What Premier Zhu of China is doing is simply a small step towards this goal - to reestablish a patron-client relationship that the Chinese empire used to have with surrounding countries in the past. Sort of like the USA's Monroe Doctorine. I am certain that is is not China's intention to invade and conquer Thailand, but rather to be able to exert enough influence so that Thailand will not do anything that is against China's interests.

I am not making any moral judgements here - whether this is good or bad is a question far beyond the scope of this posting. I am saying that this is the way the world is. The USA does (and the former Soviet Union did) exert this same kind of influence on client countries. This relationship can be useful and productive for both countries involved.

I also am not necessarily criticizing Mr. Thaksin if he chooses to accept China's patronage. Maybe it is a good idea to be friendly with a large neighbour who has been rising in power and influence lately.

JG

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I can't imagine waht Thailand will reap from a closer relationship with China which after all is their primary competition in the export market. Thailand imports far more from China than it exports (to China) and the gap is likley to grow. Where is the synergy, Eculuptis trees !!! Tell them to fuck off and capitalise on the current polititical situation between the US and China. That would be the sensible thing to do but, Thailand being what it is !!

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quote:

Originally posted by Wildalaska:

...can you imagine a world without Hello Kitty plastic backpacks, cheap shower clogs, mini stereos, North Face tents and SKS rifles?...O the horror!


I can imagine such a world, it fits in with my utopian vision of a world with out Wall Mart

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