Thailand And United States: Reducing Mutual Distrust
BANGKOK: -- The joint statement issued after the fifth Thai-US Strategic Dialogue in Washington on 14 June indicated that future relations are moving forward in the right direction. A few days later, the whole bundle of promises hit a snag. Mud-slinging between the government and opposition Democrat Party in recent weeks over the use of U-tapao airbase facilities showed any Thai-US initiative these days is not going to proceed easily without sufficient transparency and consultation with all stakeholders. Washington refused to help bail out Bangkok during the financial crisis back in 1997 and that inflicted a deep wound on the Thai psyche
That helps explained why the strategic dialogue agreed to set up a working group to promote people-to-people exchange, first of its kinds. After more than 180 years of diplomatic relations, the two governments still need advices on ways to increase exchanges between their two peoples. Without any political spin, Thais and Americans get together very well. However, when bilateral issues are framed with patriotism, it is quite easy to wipe up anti-American sentiment over here.
For the first time, Thailand also raised the issue of visa waiver to facilitate the visits of Thai tourists and visitors to the US. A long queue in front of the US consular office on the Wireless Road continues to be an eye's sour of their longstanding relations. Russia is the first and only major power to waive visa for Thai passport holders.
Washington's dialogue was frank and unscripted as US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Affairs, Kurt Campbell, and Foreign Permanent Secretary Sihasak Phuangkhetkeou were very much in sync with one another. This time they managed to discuss the whole gamut of Thai-US relations, especially areas that needed to be strengthened. Their friendship particularly the security cooperation has suffered greatly followed the 2006 coup. The security consultations, a pivotal element of their alliance, were temporarily suspended. After long delay, Washington finally agreed to host the second round of Thai-US Senior Defense Talks—a good move that will improve the morale of the Thai army leaders.
They have previously complaint consistently that the US has failed to support the latest effort to build up defence capacity as a non-Nato ally. Lists of ammunitions and weapon systems that Thailand submitted sometime ago were ignored by Washington quite a long. At one point, Sihasak even asked Kurt what was the purpose of being non-Nato ally if the US simply did not respond to the Thai request at all.
The dialogue this time allowed both sides to shed light on their intention and strategic outlooks, especially the Thai concern over the US pivot on Asia. Kurt spent the first half of one day's discussion talking about the US rebalancing effort and increased pres?ence in Asia. He stressed that it was not focused on the military increase or presence per se but rather on a holistic approach of the US engagement in Asia. That explained why the US values Thailand's alliance and commitment. He added that US State Secretary Hilary Clinton will lead a big delega?tion together leading investors and business leaders travelling to this part of the world to boost further ties.
In return, the Thai side welcomed the US increased engagement and acknowledgement of Asean centrality in the regional schemes of things. Sihasak expressed confidence on the role of China in the region trusting that Beijing will become a responsible global player. He stressed that both the US and China know how to navigate their relations and together they would best avoid colluding or cooperating to harm the countries in Asean. The US trusted Thailand's constructive role as the incoming coordinating country for China-Asean relations (2012-2015) in solving the South China Sea conflict.
To strengthen further security cooperation, the second working group has also been set up to study terms of ref?erence for the use of U-Tapao airbase as part of Thailand's proposed plan to establish a centre for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Thailand first raised the possibility of serving a hub for regional humanitarian assistance in time of natural disaster with the World Food Program under the UN-Asean framework back in 2005. Due to the Thai political turmoil in 2006, subsequently Malaysia's Subang Airport facility was chosen instead.
Since then the idea of setting up a centre for such purpose has been on the government's agenda. In the beginning, the Thai Royal Navy wants the center placed under a bilateral frame?work but the US would like to transform it as a platform for multilateral cooperation. After the tsunami catastrophe in 2005 and subsequent natural disasters in the Philippines and Indonesia, the profile of U-tapao was raised due to its central location in the mainland Southeast Asia in rescue and search missions. The annual Thai-US joint military exercise, Cobra Gold, has been concentrated on humanitarian and disaster relief practices involving multinational forces. The US which has regular access to the U-Tapao base facilities for decades would like to have a formal arrangement and stand operating procedures with the Thai govern?ment in time of humanitarian crisis. The US side pointed out during the strategic dialogue the previous US emergency assistance were considered by other countries as "coincident" activities. Washington wants to change that kind of perception.
In addition, the US is urging Thailand to cooperate in helping third countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia both bilateral and multilateral framework as in the Lower Mekong Initiative. Such expansive engagement would bolster the US footings in the continental Southeast Asia.
At the moment, it is still a bone of contention. The Democrat Party had urged the government to come clean on the use of U-tapao. In fact, the opposition should know better than anyone since the discussion started in under the Abhisit government. Since the Thai side is preparing the terms of reference concerning access and use of air base facility, it can literally lay down conditions as they wish. After all, U-tapao has been transformed into an international airport for chartered planes for the past several years.
As visable, efforts to reinvigorate Thai-US cooperation, especially the strategic ties, are extremely difficult as they are easily held hostage by domestic squabbling and political spins. If this trend continues, the US is planning to look elsewhere. In private dis?cussions, Cambodia has been often mentioned as an alternate country as its leaders are more willing to accom?modate with the new US security needs.
The Nation 2012-06-25
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