Yingluck Shinawatra's Foreign Policy

Thaksin's foreign policy

Friday, 20 January 2012
Written by Pavin Chachavalpongpun
Asia Sentinel

Taking over where Thaksin left off

It has been six months since the July election that brought the first woman into Thailand's top political position—Yingluck Shinawatra.

During this period, Prime Minister Yingluck has encountered several difficult issues, ranging from the devastating floods, the attempt to provide amnesty for her fugitive brother Thaksin, and the increasing cases of lèse-majesté.

But there is one area in which Yingluck has appeared to be doing well so far—foreign affairs. It is fair to say that since Thaksin’s downfall in 2006, Thailand has had no tangible foreign policy. The Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat governments were short-lived. And the Abhisit Vejjajiva period was marked by conflicts with neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia.

It is therefore a real test for Yingluck to reinvent Thai diplomacy, the one that departs from antagonism toward neighbouring countries. In terms of Thai-Cambodian relations, Yingluck paid a high-profile visit to Cambodia, as the first country in her introductory tour. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was gleeful to roll out a red carpet to receive the Thai female premier. For now, relationship between the two countries has returned to normalcy. And the secret to this success is that issues in this bilateral relationship have simply become less politicised, particularly on the Thai part.

Thailand, Cambodia to establish power plant working group

PHNOM PENH, Dec 30 (MCOT online news) - Thailand and Cambodia are to establish a working group to facilitate cooperation for the Stung Num hydropower plant and a coal-fired power plant on Koh Kong after both countries agreed on electricity sharing.

Thailand’s Minister of Energy Pichai Naripthaphan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul were officially visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Thursday when the Cambodian leader raised the issue.

Mr Pichai said the matter had been on hold due to political problems between the two nations.

According to Mr Pichai, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was assigned to discuss with Cambodia in detail, as it is to purchase power as stated in the existing agreement.

Cambodian, Thai FMs pledge to intensify bilateral cooperation

PHNOM PENH, Dec 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's foreign minister Hor Namhong and his visiting Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Thursday agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in all fields for the interests of both people and countries.

"We had agreed to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, tourism, and humanitarian activities," Hor Namhong told reporters in a joint press briefing after a one-hour meeting with Surapong.

Both sides agreed to work together to open a new Stung Bath border checkpoint near Poipet checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province as soon as possible to cope with the increasing growth of goods and tourists between the two nations, he said.

Yingluck's administration brings close ties for Cambodia, Thailand: Cambodia PM

PHNOM PENH, Dec 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday hailed the Thai government led by Yingluck Shinawatra for her efforts to restore good relations with Cambodia.

Speaking at a meeting with visiting Thai foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan at the Phnom Penh's Peace Palace, Hun Sen said that the bilateral relations between Cambodia and Thailand have "turned good" since the Pheu Thai Party led by Yingluck Shinawatra won the general election in July this year.

He added that it was the open of the new chapter of Cambodian and Thai relations and cooperation.

Thai Foreign Minister visits Cambodia

BANGKOK, Dec 29 (MCOT) -- Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul left Thailand for Cambodia Thursday morning to strengthen bilateral ties and prepare for the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting which will resume soon.

Mr Surapong told reporters at Suvarnabhumi Airport that during his two-day visit, he will meet his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong to follow up agreements made during Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit to Phnom Penh in September.

The Thai foreign minister will discuss preparations for the Thai-Cambodian boundary meeting which is expected to resume soon and also ask for clarification from Cambodia on the Dec 15 shooting incident when Cambodian troops fired on a Thai helicopter in order to better understand the circumstances.

The Royal Thai Navy helicopter was shot in mid-air while delivering food to a military base situated near the Cambodian border in Trat province. No one was injured but the helicopter was slightly damaged and was forced to make an emergency landing.

Mr Surapong said he would seek more details on the latest developments regarding two Thai activists jailed in Cambodia for espionage charges after their Cambodian lawyer yesterday withdrew their appeal against the verdict of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance, opening the way to seek a royal pardon from the Cambodian king.

Football game is not real life

26/09/2011
Bangkok Post

EDITORIAL

Football diplomacy moves Thai-Cambodian relations forward. It does not settle any of the outstanding bilateral disagreements. Authorities in both countries may be able to use the sports encounter to make progress at more important meetings.

Sports diplomacy is always a good tension breaker. The weekend football match in Phnom Penh was no exception. It was so diplomatic, in fact, that Cambodians joined the Thai team and Thais joined the Cambodian team. With a crowd estimated at 50,000 looking on, everything came up roses, with the team headed by the top dignitary, Prime Minister Hun Sen, coming out on top, with smiles all around. Hands were shaken. Smiles were contagious. A good mood was undeniable. But no problems were solved, and there are important and urgent disagreements between our two countries.

The idea of football diplomacy instigated by some Pheu Thai members of parliament is a good one. For sure there were political motives behind Saturday's game at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium. Fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had already left Cambodia for Hong Kong, but the match was about him, and about the new government led by his sister, Ms Yingluck.

Hun Sen has made, and continues to make quite a big deal out of the Pheu Thai election victory. On Saturday, he repeated his statement that the bad old days - "the nightmare era - was over. By that, as everyone knows, he meant that the Democrat Party was defeated at the polls. Hun Sen has a continuing and troubling disrespect and personal dislike of ex-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and of former foreign minister Kasit Piromya. (To be fair, Mr Kasit's attacks on Hun Sen during the 2008 yellow shirt period were equally, unfairly personal.)

Surapong praises Cambodian relations

26/09/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

NEW YORK : Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has assured United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that relations between Thailand and Cambodia will improve under the new Thai government.

Mr Surapong said he had told Mr Ban that relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh were returning to normal after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's official visit to Phnom Penh on Sept 15.

Ms Yingluck received a warm welcome from her Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, he said.

Yingluck and Foreign Policy

September 24, 2011
By Tim LaRocco
The Diplomat

When Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister of Thailand in July, I argued this development was likely to ameliorate tensions that had developed over the years between Thailand and Cambodia. Between allegations of espionage levelled by Phnom Penh against the government of former Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and the recurrent violent military clashes over the ancient temple ruins of Preah Vihear, relations between the two countries seemed earlier this year to be at their lowest ebb in some time.

But Yingluck’s selection may have changed things. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was quick to announce that the election results in Thailand signalled a ‘new era of cooperation’ between the two countries. Relations between Phnom Penh and Yingluck’s brother Thaksin Shinawatra were quite warm, and remained so even after Thaksin’s overthrow, when he briefly served as an economic consultant for Hun Sen.

Yingluck’s visit to Phnom Penh this month reflects the potential of this new era. The two heads of state held what has been described by Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith as a ‘fruitful’ meeting, one in which both parties agreed to a host of bilateral discussions and negotiations on issues ranging from trade and investment, to the border dispute and the fate of two Thai nationals held in a Cambodian prison on allegations of spying.

Thailand’s Focus on stronger ties among ASEAN Countries

September 20, 2011
Zhong Li
Thailand Business News

Thailand has emphasized the importance of confidence building among ASEAN countries and its commitment to developing closer relationship with all ASEAN member states.

ASEAN Heads of Missions to Thailand recently paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who stressed Thailand’s commitment to the realization of the ASEAN Community in the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural fields.

Minister Surapong also underscored the importance of connectivity and closer people-to-people relations, saying that Thailand hoped to see greater prosperity and peace in the ASEAN region. He noted that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had received a warm welcome during her visit to Brunei Darussalam on September 10 and Indonesia on September 12, as part of her familiarization trip to ASEAN.

During her trip to Cambodia, Yingluck Shinawatra met Prime Minister Samdech Akkra Maha Senabodhi Techo Hun Sen and other senior Cambodian officials in the plenary session.

Wikileaks: Statement on Thailand regional issues which also includes Thai's perspective on the Cambodian-Thai border conflict

Cable 10BANGKOK186, A/S SHAPIRO VISIT: DISCUSSIONS OF REGIONAL ISSUES

Reference ID: 10BANGKOK186

Created: 2010-01-23 10:42

Released: 2011-08-30 01:44

Classification: CONFIDENTIAL

Origin: Embassy Bangkok

VZCZCXRO5956

OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM

DE RUEHBK #0186/01 0231042

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

O 231042Z JAN 10

FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9657

INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE

RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 7901

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0327

RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 6123

RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2255

RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0276

RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000186

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2020

TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MARR MASS TH CH CB

SUBJECT: A/S SHAPIRO VISIT: DISCUSSIONS OF REGIONAL ISSUES,

THE RISE OF CHINA, AND ASEAN

Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

¶1. (C) Summary. During a January 13-15 visit, Assistant

Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro

discussed a range of regional issues during meetings with

senior Thai officials. The rise of China was viewed benignly

by Thai officials, who stressed that Beijing was more

interested in supporting trade and economic development in

the ASEAN region than in attending to security issues.

Heightened tensions with Cambodia were universally

characterized as a political issue rather than a security

threat, and DPM Suthep Thaugsuban said that he expected that

relations with Cambodia would improve this year. The Vice

Foreign Minister stressed that Prime Minister Abhisit

Vejjajiva would not visit Burma until a meeting with Aung San

Suu Kyi was permitted, and that the PM firmly supported the

release of all political prisoners. Ministry of Defense

Permanent Secretary Apichart Penkitti underscored to A/S

Shapiro Thailand's desire for the U.S. to join the ASEAN

Defense Ministers Meeting Plus arrangement.

Relations back on track

Friday, 16 September 2011
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had held a closed-door discussion with his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra after she arrived in Phnom Penh yesterday and the two had agreed to wide-ranging co-operation on trade, tourism, oil and gas in the Overlapping Claims Area, the Preah Vihear border and the imprisonment of two Thai nationals for spying, high-ranking Cambodian officials said.

Khieu Kanharith, Cambodia’s Minister of Information and spokesman for the government, told reporters about an hour after the meeting that Yingluck’s visit was a mission to bring the two countries closer together.

“The visit of Yingluck was a mission to restore diplomatic ties,” he said.

Thai PM visits Cambodia to strengthen bilateral cooperation

BANGKOK, Sept 15 (MCOT online news) -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will leave Bangkok for the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on an official one day introductory visit after assuming her post last month and to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation with Cambodia.

Ms Yingluck was scheduled to depart Bangkok from Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base, Wing 6 at 2pm, with a welcoming ceremony to be held at Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

The Thai premier and her Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen will then hold bilateral talks before proceeding to Khemarin Palace for an audience with HM King Norodom Sihamoni.

Prime Minister Hun Sen will host a dinner to honour Ms Yingluck at Cambodia's Government House before the Thai prime minister returns to Thailand and expected to arrive at 9.20pm.

Cambodia shows soft policy with Thailand

By Meng Bill

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is trying to show its soft policy with Thailand as much as possible, a motivation aiming to avoid tense and military confrontation along the two countries' border areas.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen had made a quick sending of congratulation letter to Yinluck Shinawatra, dated August 5, soon after she was elected by the Thai House of Representatives as the Prime Minister of Thailand.

However, such a letter was not officially announced or made available to the media until Tuesday.

When reached for comment, Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, said Prime Minister Hun Sen's quick sending of the letter was a gesture of a leader in the neighboring country who wants to express sympathy and to live in peace and harmony.

He said referring to the troublesome border conflict with Thailand since it first erupted in 2008, and thus Cambodia desires to avoid further military confrontation that will risk the lives of the soldiers as well as the lives of the civilians.

However, Phay Siphan said that Hun Sen had made the same gesture with former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen was making the same such quick approach to Abhisit Vejjajiva soon after he was elected as a prime minister," he said, adding that "as always Cambodia shows soft and friendly approach to Thailand."

Sources who attended the weekly cabinet meeting unveiled Tuesday that Hun Sen had told his government members last Friday that he had worked hard with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on resolving the border problems, but it did not work well. Now, with the new government to be formed and to be led by Yingluck Shinawatra from the Pheu Thai Party, Hun Sen expressed his optimism that there will be a more conducive environment for the two countries to resolve the border problems.

Yingluck: New govt to improve foreign relations

Thursday, 21 July 2011
By NNT
Pattaya Mail (Thailand)

BANGKOK, 19 July 2011 – Incoming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has indicated that the new government will focus on improving international relations, especially with Cambodia while the new foreign minister should have good relationship with the neighbouring nation.

Asked to comment on the Thai-Cambodian issue, Ms Yingluck stated that she will have to study details of the temporary injunction pronounced by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering withdrawals of the Thai and Cambodian troops from the disputed Preah Vihear Temple zone.

The incoming prime minister noted that it is important to restore healthy foreign relations. She said the person who will take the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be good in coordination to benefit biliateral relations, but she said the figure is yet to be selected after the new government is formed.

Border row set to test Yingluck's leadership

Hun Sen: ‘Pheu Thai win marks new era’

9/07/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

It has been widely speculated that Thai-Cambodian relations will bloom again now the Pheu Thai Party has won the election and is taking the helm of government.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has made it clear that Pheu Thai's victory will improve ties between Thailand and his country.

He said the election outcome marked the start of "a new era of cooperation" and differences between the countries should be resolved peacefully.

The Thai-Cambodian relationship has had more downs than ups over the past two years since the Democrats took office in December 2008. Ties went rapidly downhill in 2009 when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser.

NESDB: [Thailand's] Ties with Cambodia to improve

7/07/2011
Bangkok Post

The relationship between Thailand and Cambodia is likely to improve once the incoming Pheu Thai-led government takes power, a member of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) said Thursday.

Narongchai Akraseranee was speaking at a seminar on “Moving Forward to Investment in the Asean Economic Community (AEC)” held by the NESDB office this morning.

Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations now have less concern about political problem in Thailand as the July 3 general election passed through without any situation., said Mr Narongchai.

They also believed the PheuThai-led administration would be able to improve ties with the neighbour that has turned sour for two years, he added.

Tourism relations marked by unease

Thai tourist arrivals in Cambodia fell 34% year-on-year in the first quarter, even as foreign visitor numbers overall increased by 14%.

Industry cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia is down but not out amid political tensions

27/06/2011

Steve Finch

Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH : Organisers of the Thai Travel Mart Plus 2011 held in Bangkok earlier this month said Cambodian companies did not attend the regional event due to political tensions, a further sign this year's border clashes between the two countries have had a negative economic impact.

Gun Punthuhong, a spokesman for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), told the Bangkok Post by telephone from the opening of the three-day event on June 8 that the absence of Cambodian tour operators in Bangkok was due to the "obvious [bilateral] political chaos".

"There are no companies from Cambodia," he said. "Last year, they joined."

Vietnamese companies also did not attend the event, the biggest tourism trade show in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

[Thai ambassador to Cambodia] Prasas ready for quiet life

Prasas: Phnom Penh turmoil

19/03/2011
Bangkok Post

Phnom Penh is Prasas Prasasvinitchai's first ambassadorial posting - and it has been a turbulent one.

His hectic schedule was highlighted by strained bilateral relations caused by a series of diplomatic events such as Cambodia's appointment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the country's economic adviser, and rallies by the Santi Asoke and People's Alliance for Democracy over the border dispute around the Preah Vihear temple.

Less than a month after arriving at the Cambodian capital in October 2009, Mr Prasas was recalled to Bangkok in a protest by the government against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as economic adviser.

He spent more than nine months away from Phnom Penh.

Mr Prasas returned to the Cambodian capital again on Aug 24 last year, soon after Thaksin's resignation as an economic adviser.

Thailand-Cambodia: A Love-Hate Relationship

By Charnvit Kasetsiri
Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia 3 (March 2003)

The violence which culminated in the burning of the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh on January 29, 2003, was both shocking and unexpected. The rioting not only inflicted extensive damage to Thai-owned property (fortunately, no one was killed) but severely strained Thai-Cambodian relations. It also warrants study of the history of Thai-Cambodian relations to understand the deep-seated causes of what took place so that similar incidents can be avoided in the future.

Among the neighboring countries of Southeast Asia, none seems more similar to Thailand than Cambodia (perhaps not even excluding Laos and the “Tai” people scattered throughout such countries as Burma, Vietnam, and southern China). Both nations share similar customs, traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. This is especially true of royal customs, language, writing systems, vocabulary, literature, and the dramatic arts.

In light of these similarities, it seems surprising, therefore, that relations between Thailand and Cambodia should be characterized by deep-seated “ignorance, misunderstanding, and prejudice.” Indeed, the two countries have what can be termed “a love-hate relationship.”

This lack of understanding is reflected in the thinking of a considerable number of educated Thais and members of the ruling class, who distinguish between the Khom and the Khmer, considering them to be two separate ethnic groups. They assert that it was the Khom, not the Khmer, who built the majestic temple complexes at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and who founded one of the world’s truly magnificent ancient empires. They further claim that Khmer culture, for instance its various forms of masked dance drama, is merely a “derivative” of Thai culture. (This is despite the fact that the word “Khom” is derived from the old Thai “Khmer krom,” meaning “lowland Khmer.” In spoken Thai, “Khmer” was gradually dropped, leaving only “krom,” which over time became, first, “klom” or “kalom,” and then eventually “Khom.”)

Cambodian, Thai ministers utter soothing words amid border worries

Feb 4, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Friday sought to talk down tensions following a build-up of troops near disputed land on their border.

They were addressing reporters after a meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in the city of Siem Reap in north-west Cambodia.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said talks with his counterpart Hor Namhong had covered 'every subject.'

'The main objective is to avoid any action, activity, any public pronouncement that might lead to misinformation,' Kasit said.