Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
The armed forces have defended the involvement of South Korea in the Cobra Gold military exercises for the first time this year.
Gen Ratchakrit Kanchanawat, the joint chief of staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, said the exercises were designed for peace-keeping purposes and had nothing to do with the "balance of global power".
South Korea, which will send 411 soldiers with their own weapons, has been given permission to play an active part in the annual Cobra Gold exercises with the backing of co-hosts Thailand and the US, Gen Ratchakrit said yesterday.
South Korea had been an observer at the exercises for many years and shared similar military doctrines with Thailand and the US, so their participation was welcomed, he said.
"Don't be concerned about the balance of global or regional powers because of the inclusion of South Korea," he said. "Our aim is to hold a military exercise, keep peace and promote humanitarian aid."
Korea is the sixth country to take part in Cobra Gold, launched in 1982, joining Thailand, the US, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. Under a Thai-US agreement, up to 10 countries could become involved in the exercises.
An army source said the US took an active role in backing Korea's participation after reports of joint military cooperation between North Korea and Burma.
It could be the first step for South Korea to have a more active role in Southeast Asia, the source said.
More than 11,600 soldiers, mostly from the US with 6,217 troops, will gather in provinces such as Rayong, Phetchaburi and Lop Buri from Feb 1 to 11.
Meanwhile, the US is also planning joint exercises with Cambodia, but Thai military officials are unconcerned even though Thailand has been at odds with its neighbour on overlapping boundaries.
"We understand the US. It is a drill for peace-keeping," Gen Ratchakrit said.
Gen Ratchakrit Kanchanawat, the joint chief of staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, said the exercises were designed for peace-keeping purposes and had nothing to do with the "balance of global power".
South Korea, which will send 411 soldiers with their own weapons, has been given permission to play an active part in the annual Cobra Gold exercises with the backing of co-hosts Thailand and the US, Gen Ratchakrit said yesterday.
South Korea had been an observer at the exercises for many years and shared similar military doctrines with Thailand and the US, so their participation was welcomed, he said.
"Don't be concerned about the balance of global or regional powers because of the inclusion of South Korea," he said. "Our aim is to hold a military exercise, keep peace and promote humanitarian aid."
Korea is the sixth country to take part in Cobra Gold, launched in 1982, joining Thailand, the US, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. Under a Thai-US agreement, up to 10 countries could become involved in the exercises.
An army source said the US took an active role in backing Korea's participation after reports of joint military cooperation between North Korea and Burma.
It could be the first step for South Korea to have a more active role in Southeast Asia, the source said.
More than 11,600 soldiers, mostly from the US with 6,217 troops, will gather in provinces such as Rayong, Phetchaburi and Lop Buri from Feb 1 to 11.
Meanwhile, the US is also planning joint exercises with Cambodia, but Thai military officials are unconcerned even though Thailand has been at odds with its neighbour on overlapping boundaries.
"We understand the US. It is a drill for peace-keeping," Gen Ratchakrit said.
17 comments:
"Cobra Gold military .." it's a aggressive thai's force movie. hunsen not even care. soon hunsen will make a military march in phnom penh and will be exact copy cat of kim jong ill. don't scare us thai shithead.
Yep, i agree! Khmer don't give a shit about golden cobra military exercise craps! Khmer has already ate golden dragon with soup Pho^ 999...we really don't give fuck about Thais golden cobra bullshit!
Well, Kampuchean man luv to make a spicy red curry out of Thais golden corbra, it's special treat for khmer rouge fellows...snack!!
Just in case you Thais-thief plans to attack Khmer, bring on all of your golden dick too!...we don't give a fuck!
velee velee powerful siam gold (what the hell?) cobra! khmer natural cobras are blackish or dark-brownish, not gold or pink...
I used to make cobra "chhar kroeung pos vek" but i love to try Thais golden cobra next...it's sound good! golden cobra? huh? i'll put alot of hot peper this time...
Howdy Cambodians posters above.
This Cobra Gold military exercises is in the Geopolitical Context of South East Asia.
It is a begining of war between China and US.
On July 22nd 2009 @ the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bangkok, Hillary Clinton made a declaration sending a strong political signal to China that the US are back in South East Asia.
You all are getting too excited for nothing.
hello 10:46, don't u remeber hanoi hilton ? asean + usa against china ? crap crap crap, who gonna join the party since viet, khmer, birma, lao, malaysia, singapore and china are all big brother now. will they go against thai food (the cobra ..thing) ?
11;24am.
Chinese are big brothers of ASEAN.
Yes, China is bong Thom of south east asian nowaday...and China also taken over the world economy too..!
hahahhahhahahha!
this cobra gold military exercise has been going on every year for the past 10 years or more already. it is about time to include cambodia and some other regional countries in this military exercise if they were to make peace and change in the new era of peace and prosperity in the whole southeast asia region, really. it makes sense to include cambodia now that the war and commy is history, really. if not, cambodia is sure to resent them for looking down at us and for continue to leave cambodia out of this annual military exercise for the purpose of peace, you know! hey, cambodia is not the same anymore, we came a long way from beiong a war-torned country to a fledgling market economy like thailand and south korea 20 or 30 years ago, really! it woiuld be a mistake not to include cambodia in this new era of region peace and prosperity in southeast asia.
What' about Khmer diamond dragon military exercise..? Thailand better stay a way fool!
10:46am,
Your remark on the comments above is a bit tough to those who make comments. In fact, what they said is merely sick of the attitude of the group, not being EXITED as you claimed.
Believe or not, Cambodia would be careless with whatever the exercise would be. The question to be asked why they need show off now, but not earlier. For your information, each nation in the world has its alliance and the difference is only either Western or Eastern blocks. In military terms, these two blocks never conceded each other.
So it is nothing exited, but likely sarcastic because too show off.
That Thai Cobra Gold military exercise is designed to provide the usual Rest and Re-cooperate for visiting soldiers just like in the 1960's and 70's. Got to say, Thais do provide excellent service in this specialized area. Me love you long time!
so wich means alot countries will participate in that kind of military's exercise in thailand. yes why not, once it's done with shooting, camping along side of pataya. why not go to visit some transgender in bang-cock, folk.
Yep, invited soldiers bring their cobras from home then let them lose in Thailand. Them slivers will have a field day, 5555555 - hahahahahaha (this is how the Thai people laugh on the Internet. Ha is number 5).
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