Thailand and China strengthen their ties

BANGKOK: Thailand and China are in talks about building military production facilities in Thailand, a Thai Defence Ministry spokesman said yesterday, the latest sign of warming relations between China and America’s oldest ally in Asia.

Relations between Thailand and the US cooled following a May 2014 military coup that the Thai military said was necessary to end months of unrest, including street protests that led to the ousting of an elected government.

The US has said relations cannot return to normal until democracy was restored. The generals running Thailand have promised an election for next year.

Since the coup, the military government has sought to counterbalance US ties by developing relations with China.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan met his Chinese counterpart, Chang Wanquan, during a visit to Beijing last week.

“The defence minister told his Chinese counterpart that we are interested in setting up facilities to repair and maintain the Chinese equipment we have in our arsenal,” ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said.

“We will also look to their expertise in producing small arms and other security-related equipment, such as drones,” he said.

Thailand has also held talks with Russia about setting up similar production facilities, said Kongcheep, without giving details.

Following the 2014 coup, the US froze security and defence aid to Thailand. It has also scaled back annual military exercises, citing concern about Thailand’s political developments.

Donald Trump’s election victory has also raised questions about prospects for a US “pivot” towards Asia, a central policy of outgoing US President Barack Obama.

“If the US is unable to back up its regional role, the regional states have no other choice but to accommodate Beijing,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

Kongcheep said military relations with the US were expected to get back on track after Thailand’s election. “The relationship is not yet perfect,” he said.

“Once Thailand returns to democracy, I expect the relationship to return to normal.” – Reuters