thaicables – It's Your Right to know the Truth!

“95023″,”2/2/2007 8:49″,”07BANGKOK680″,”Embassy Bangkok”,”CONFIDENTIAL”,”06BANGKOK5799|07BANGKOK653|07BANGKOK680|07BEIJING592″,”VZCZCXRO6023

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SIPDIS

 

SIPDIS

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017

TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, MASS, CH, TH, ASEAN, SN, JA

SUBJECT: CHINA ON THAILAND, SINGAPORE, JAPAN AND EAS

 

REF: A. BEIJING592: SONTHI DISCUSSES ARMS PURCHASES

B. 06BANGKOK5799: IMPLEMENTING SANCTIONS

C. BANGKOK653: SINGAPORE SPAT

 

Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, Reasons 1.4 (B,D)

 

1. (C) SUMMARY. Chinese diplomats confirmed that Thai

interim PM Surayud Chulanont will visit China in April, and

shared that the Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has

delayed his planned trip in a snit. The Chinese stated that

CNS Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin\’s recent trip to

Beijing resulted in informal agreements for more military

expert exchanges between the two countries, and might portend

increases in the Thai purchase of Chinese military equipment.

Chinese diplomats predicted that although the

Thai-Singaporean relationship is currently tense, it would

not worsen. They also expressed optimism that Japan\’s new PM

Shinzo Abe\’s term would translate into an upturn in

Sino-Japanese relations. Chinese diplomats assessed that the

recent East Asia Summit (EAS) in Cebu, Philippines was a

success, and hoped that EAS would become a \”middle ground\”

for the Chinese and Americans to meet and discuss issues

pertaining to East Asia. End summary.

 

SURAYUD TO VISIT CHINA

———————-

 

2. (C) As part of Embassy Bangkok\’s regular tea meetings

with the PRC Embassy, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

confirmed that no Chinese high-level visits to Thailand

are currently being planned. However, Thailand\’s interim

prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, will be visiting the PRC

in April. XXXXXXX then joked that although a famous Thai

astrologer predicted that 2007 would not be an auspicious

year for Thailand, XXXX believed that the Surayud government

\”have control of the (domestic) situation\” and assessed that

the state of domestic politics \”depended upon how the (Thai)

economy is going.\”

 

THE CROWN PRINCE POSTPONES CHINA TRIP IN A SNIT

——————————————— –

 

3. (C) XXXXXX shared that a planned visit by the Thai Crown

Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to take place early this year has

been postponed. XXXXX explained that the crown prince was

\”angry\” that he was refused his request for \”special VIP

treatment\” while visiting China. This would have been his

first trip to the PRC; his sister, Crown Princess Maha Chakri

Sirindhorn, visited China a number of times and speaks fluent

Mandarin Chinese.

 

ON THINGS MILITARY…

———————

 

4. (C) XXXXXXX stated that although no formal agreements were

signed during the January 21-24 visit to Beijing of

Thailand\’s Council of National Security (CNS) Chairman Sonthi

Boonyaratglin (reftel A), China expected that there would be

an increased exchange of military experts between the two

countries. Also, XXXXXXXX noted that Sonthi\’s trip would likely

translate into an increase in the Thai purchase of Chinese

military equipment.

 

WHAT? THE US STILL SELLS WEAPONS TO THAILAND?

———————————————

 

5. (C) Inquiring details to the US Section 508 sanctions

that was placed on Thailand after the military coup (reftel

B), the Chinese were surprised to learn that Section 508 did

not affect military sales. Poloff explained that Section 508

only affected various forms of US military grants and

 

BANGKOK 00000680 002 OF 002

 

assistance to the Thai military and that we were still able

to conduct foreign military sales.

 

FEUDING NEIGHBORS

—————–

 

6. (C) Noting the current tension in Thai-Singaporean

relations, XXXXXXX assessed that since both Thailand and

Singapore are members of ASEAN, \”things would not get any

worse.\” XXXXXXXX stated that Thailand \”just wanted to teach

Singapore a lesson\” (reftel C), and she did not expect

Thailand to take any steps that would worsen the two

countries\’ relationship.

 

AND CHINA\’S OWN FEUD…

———————–

 

7. (C) XXXXXXXXX expressed optimism in the new Japanese Prime

Minister Shinzo Abe. XX noted that Sino-Japanese relations

has dramatically improved since Abe\’s term and expected the

relationship to continue to improve under his government.

XXXXXX stated that there is \”still time for Abe to show his

ability,\” and confirmed that Chinese President Hu Jingtao

will visit Japan in April.

 

NEW PLATFORM FOR EAST ASIAN MULTILATERALISM?

——————————————–

 

8. (C) XXXXXXX said that the recent East Asia Summit

(EAS)/ASEAN 3 meeting in Cebu, Philippines was a great

success. XXXXX stated that although EAS is a \”new platform\”

for leaders of East Asian countries to discuss issues and

resolve differences, it is still uncertain what kind of role

EAS would play in the future. XXXX suggested that since

ASEAN 3 is currently the principle mechanism for China to

engage with its East Asian neighbors — like APEC is for the

United States — perhaps EAS could be a \”middle ground\” for

China and the US to meet together along with the other East

Asian players to discuss multilateral issues.

BOYCE

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