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Thai army delegation visits China amid Western reproach of coup
A delegation of Thai military commanders travelled to China on Wednesday for talks on regional security and joint training amid Western reproach of the army's seizure of power in a coup last month.
General Surasak Kanjanarat, Thailand's de facto defence minister, said the meeting was aimed at mapping out "future plans of action" with the Chinese army, one of its oldest regional allies. He did not elaborate on the plans.
The bid by Thailand's military rulers to strengthen ties with China comes after Western powers, including old ally the United States, criticised the May 22 coup and called for a speedy return to democracy.
The junta has said it has China's support.
"This meeting will be to talk about ties ... and future plans of action and exchange views on regional security," Surasak, the head of the delegation, told reporters.
"We will discuss in which areas we could increase military training. We will not talk about the situation in Thailand because it is not relevant."
Surasak was due to meet the deputy chief-of-staff of the China's army, Lieutenant-General Wang Guanzhong.
The coup was the latest convulsion in a decade-long conflict between the Bangkok-based royalist establishment and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies. The ousted government had been headed by the self-exiled, former telecommunications tycoon's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Several foreign government have voiced disapproval of the coup, including the United States, which scrapped joint military programmes days after the generals took power.
In contrast, the ambassadors of China and Vietnam in Bangkok met Thailand's armed forces chief last week in what the junta said was a show of support.
On Monday, in the first major corporate deal since the coup, state-owned China Mobile Ltd agreed to buy a 19 percent stake in Thai telecoms group True Corp for $881 million (524.8 million pounds).
The regime's engagement with China comes at a critical time for the United States, which is shoring up ties with Asian allies and building stronger relationships with countries like Vietnam and Myanmar to counter China's growing assertiveness.
Perhaps with that in mind, the U.S. response to Thailand's coup has, for now anyway, been limited to the suspension of about $3.5 million in military aid and the cancellation of some training exercises and visits by commanders.
While likely to find sympathy in China, Thailand's military is also concerned about perceptions elsewhere. Junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha called on 23 Thai ambassadors on Wednesday to make the case for the coup.
"Thailand is not able to be alone in this world and a great part of our income comes from exports which relies on international relationships," Prayuth said.
"We can't make everyone agree with our actions but our duty is to create understanding."
Malaysia's defence minister is due next week to make the first visit by a foreign government minister since the coup. His trip showed "a good understanding of the Thai situation", the Thai military said in a statement.
[Thank you to JP Morgan at CDF for the original post]
A delegation of Thai military commanders travelled to China on Wednesday for talks on regional security and joint training amid Western reproach of the army's seizure of power in a coup last month.
General Surasak Kanjanarat, Thailand's de facto defence minister, said the meeting was aimed at mapping out "future plans of action" with the Chinese army, one of its oldest regional allies. He did not elaborate on the plans.
The bid by Thailand's military rulers to strengthen ties with China comes after Western powers, including old ally the United States, criticised the May 22 coup and called for a speedy return to democracy.
The junta has said it has China's support.
"This meeting will be to talk about ties ... and future plans of action and exchange views on regional security," Surasak, the head of the delegation, told reporters.
"We will discuss in which areas we could increase military training. We will not talk about the situation in Thailand because it is not relevant."
Surasak was due to meet the deputy chief-of-staff of the China's army, Lieutenant-General Wang Guanzhong.
The coup was the latest convulsion in a decade-long conflict between the Bangkok-based royalist establishment and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies. The ousted government had been headed by the self-exiled, former telecommunications tycoon's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Several foreign government have voiced disapproval of the coup, including the United States, which scrapped joint military programmes days after the generals took power.
In contrast, the ambassadors of China and Vietnam in Bangkok met Thailand's armed forces chief last week in what the junta said was a show of support.
On Monday, in the first major corporate deal since the coup, state-owned China Mobile Ltd agreed to buy a 19 percent stake in Thai telecoms group True Corp for $881 million (524.8 million pounds).
The regime's engagement with China comes at a critical time for the United States, which is shoring up ties with Asian allies and building stronger relationships with countries like Vietnam and Myanmar to counter China's growing assertiveness.
Perhaps with that in mind, the U.S. response to Thailand's coup has, for now anyway, been limited to the suspension of about $3.5 million in military aid and the cancellation of some training exercises and visits by commanders.
While likely to find sympathy in China, Thailand's military is also concerned about perceptions elsewhere. Junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha called on 23 Thai ambassadors on Wednesday to make the case for the coup.
"Thailand is not able to be alone in this world and a great part of our income comes from exports which relies on international relationships," Prayuth said.
"We can't make everyone agree with our actions but our duty is to create understanding."
Malaysia's defence minister is due next week to make the first visit by a foreign government minister since the coup. His trip showed "a good understanding of the Thai situation", the Thai military said in a statement.
[Thank you to JP Morgan at CDF for the original post]
