US supports Thailand’s role as regional leader, says Pompeo

[Dumbastheycome]

5 hours ago, MartinKal said:

It is not true that China is armed to the teeth. China spends about 200 billion dollar a year on Military while the US spends three times that figure.

At a lower cost maybe that effectively might translate to twice as much productively? I am not convinced the world is truly informed as to China's military capability. Or Russia. 

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, Duck J Butters said:

I highly recommend buying BTS stock now while it's still cheap. It's tax free and will do at least 300% return in 5 years in my strong opinion. BTS is a monopoly so it's only going up. It's a no-brainer investment.

 

If you don't understand why you should buy BTS stock because of America's plans to invest trillions in Thailand's technical infrastructure...then I'm not sure what else to say. I'm simply trying to give some of the expats on this site a financial "tip". Like, "hint, hint". In the US, this would be called insider trading. 

What is BTS? 

 

I heard that Peter Thiel was investing in New Zealand...in real estate, but nothing about Thailand. 

 

I am currently reading Zero to One, and I agree that Thiel is certainly someone to watch closely... the guy has an incredible record... 

 

There is a major industrial project in development in Ubon province, but I don't know yet which and what kind of companies are involved. 

 

Anyway, Thailand probably has a better future than the US, EU and associates which, among other things, are crumbling under the financial weight of their socialist systems. 

 

[Brunolem]

23 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

At a lower cost maybe that effectively might translate to twice as much productively? I am not convinced the world is truly informed as to China's military capability. Or Russia. 

Russia was kind enough to show some of its capabilities a couple of years ago. 

 

The message was quite clear: leave us alone, or else... 

 

China is probably much more vulnerable than Russia, yet in a major conflict, just a few missiles reaching their objectives would be enough to bring any country to its knees, USA included. 

 

 

[Eric Loh]

3 hours ago, malibukid said:

not surprising considering the company Trump likes to keep.  the U.S. needs all the friends it can get in SEA, and at any cost to counter the threat of China.  Democracy and Human rights be dammed.

The threat from China is not outworn western style regime change and militarism but rather soft diplomacy of single network of supply chains and trade arteries. In this kind of threat, USA under Trump is poorly equipped.

 

[DrTuner]

9 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The threat from China is not outworn western style regime change and militarism but rather soft diplomacy of single network of supply chains and trade arteries. In this kind of threat, USA under Trump is poorly equipped.

They could copy it out of monsanto's playbook, close enough to the Chinese debt trap diplomacy. Or just use the plain old tactics of the drug dealers - first taste is for free. Same same but different.

[Odysseus123]

7 hours ago, MartinKal said:

Good explanation. I add...

 

China is the Middle Earth. It is not interested in globalization and all that, what it really wants is to be an inward-looking self-sufficient nation.

 

But at the same time it wants to celebrate in 2049 as being the world's number one military and economic power.

 

Of course, these goals are totally incompatible.

 

So its strategy is that on the East it defends itself from attack from the US. And on the West and South it builds these three Silk Roads so that it can suck the raw materials in from Africa and pump out the finished goods to Europe and Beyond.

 

The incompatibility is resolved when you realize that the Chinese are extremely nationalistic and proud of their ancient and powerful history, and grasp that there are only two future things that interest the Chinese: the stock exchange and the economy.

 

These are the two mamelons the elite leadership uses to feed the people and retain its power.

Whilst you raise some interesting points the true engine of Chinese nationalism is NEVER AGAIN.

Which is specifically referring to the Western (and Japanese) interventions that occurred in China between circa 1830 and 1949.

Even the Kuomintang (old spelling) has regained a measure of respectability for it's fight against the Japanese-see the memorial and museum at Nanking (OS).

 

 

[Chongalulu]

10 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

You mean a country of 327 million people is going to stop a country of 1.386 billion people?That,s a pretty big ask.

By your metric then, Africa with it’s spiralling population will be unstoppable...? Like another think ?

[nodomino]

It’s nonsense to impose the current ideological configurations on Thai political behavior. There is but one enduring scenario. Thailand is a small country forever in the path of the ambitions of the ‘Great Empires du jure’ Thailand will bend and sway as it must and survive. In just modern times it has evaded the grasp of the Empires of Britain, France, and Japan and it will likely not succumb to the blandishments or threats of the current batch of Caesars.

[owl sees all]

8 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Whilst you raise some interesting points the true engine of Chinese nationalism is NEVER AGAIN.

Which is specifically referring to the Western (and Japanese) interventions that occurred in China between circa 1830 and 1949.

Even the Kuomintang (old spelling) has regained a measure of respectability for it's fight against the Japanese-see the memorial and museum at Nanking (OS).

 

 

Yes!

 

The Brits did immense damage to a rural China over a long period of time with their opium. That's how they got Hong Kong, and allowed the Jusuits to roam free.

 

Remember the handing over of Hong Kong speech by Prince Charles?!

 In response the Chinese boss said "The days of westerners giving advice to China are over."

[sambum]

"While prioritizing a desire to retain its alliance with Thailand, Donald Trump’s administration has softened the US’s stance on the need for democracy and human rights in the Kingdom."

 

Why? 

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[FarFlungFalang]

32 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

By your metric then, Africa with it’s spiralling population will be unstoppable...? Like another think ?

Sorry not quite understanding the question "Like another think?"Actually looks more like a statement.Could you please elucidate for me?

[Muzarella]

``We support transparency and good governance around the world´´...coming from the most corrupted country in the world that´s is a lesson of hypocrisy! .... but....I know Americans!...you do not believe it.

[RJRS1301]

We support transparency and good governance around the world and will continue to work with the Thai people and the Royal Thai government to this end, Pompeo said on Tuesday.

 

 

 

He was really well briefed, and could not even get the title of the government correct, another bright spark in the current USA administration, reflective of his boss.

 

China does not have to invade, they just sign deals for train, roads, ports, and other infrastructure, which they build and own, while charging the government (Thailand) funds and loans it can never repay, as they are doing in Pacific nations and African nations.

 

[Muzarella]

The only interest the USA have in Thailand is to get another USA Army base in the world to keep its imperialist intentions alive. It is time for people to understand that China it is a better choice, not only for Asia, for the rest of the World. 

[RJRS1301]

6 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Apart from the fact I cannot abide Pompeo and disbelieve everything he say, he is 100% wrong on this....can you see a competent nation like Singapore being led by Thailand and the likes of Prayut? It is preposterous. 

Regionally we will be led by a country with smart people who can communicate effectively and actually get things done....clue, definitely NOT Thailand.

Can you see Malaysia (Muslim majority) being led by Thailand? 

Singapore needs no one to "lead" it.

 

[RJRS1301]

5 minutes ago, Muzarella said:

The only interest the USA have in Thailand is to get another USA Army base in the world to keep its imperialist intentions alive. It is time for people to understand that China it is a better choice, not only for Asia, for the rest of the World. 

Better choice???

Human Rights??

Democracy??

 

[marcusarelus]

25 minutes ago, Muzarella said:

The only interest the USA have in Thailand is to get another USA Army base in the world to keep its imperialist intentions alive. It is time for people to understand that China it is a better choice, not only for Asia, for the rest of the World. 

Given the performance at Tienanmen square and Tibet and the Mekong I doubt that.  I don't think America wants a base in Thailand they have that in Singapore.   

[FarFlungFalang]

38 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Can you see Malaysia (Muslim majority) being led by Thailand? 

Singapore needs no one to "lead" it.

 

Apparently Australia needs somebody to lead it!

[marcusarelus]

2 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Apparently Australia needs somebody to lead it!

I think the UK does too.  

[metisdead]

Some more off topic posts and replies have been removed. 

[simple1]

45 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Can you see Malaysia (Muslim majority) being led by Thailand? 

Singapore needs no one to "lead" it.

 

As Thailand is the current Chair for ASEAN, just diplomatic speak

[FarFlungFalang]

9 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I think the UK does too.  

I'll pay that one!

[Brunolem]

49 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Better choice???

Human Rights??

Democracy??

 

Are you asking these questions with regards to the USA? 

[RJRS1301]

13 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I think the UK does too.  

But it is not in SE Asia

[RocketDog]

I fear for any country that the USA is "interested in forming an alliance" with. This cannot turn out well for LOS.

[marcusarelus]

3 hours ago, Brunolem said:

Tienanmen was nothing to gloat about, but that was long ago... in the meantime the US has been busy destroying a large part of the Middle East, killing in the process far more civilians than were killed in Tienanmen... 

 

The US does have (sort of) a base in Thailand, in Utapao... 

No it does not.  

[marcusarelus]

3 hours ago, RocketDog said:

I fear for any country that the USA is "interested in forming an alliance" with. This cannot turn out well for LOS.

The USA has had an Alliance with Thailand since 1954 and the SEATO treaty.  You will notice that looking out the window Laos and Vietnam and Cambodia are all poor communist countries with 1/4th the infrastructure and GDP as Thailand.  That is because of the SEATO treaty and America's protection of Thailand during the period of communist encroachment in the 1960's and 1970's.  

 

Thailand asked for help from the SEATO allies and some came.  The Brits sent one airplane.  American more.  

[emptypockets]

12 hours ago, MartinKal said:

It is not true that China is armed to the teeth. China spends about 200 billion dollar a year on Military while the US spends three times that figure.

I work in Asia....... Do you have any idea what can be done for a dollar here compared to the US? Try 50 or 60 to one. 

[Pancho]

On 7/17/2019 at 9:28 PM, holy cow cm said:

As sad as it is the US had to take this stance and path to welcome the new government even if it was gotten through ways that are very questionable. China is the biggest danger that needs to be halted at any measure. 

Exactly. The United States of Thailand. The lines are being drawn. Check the real estate prices in Yangon . The USD ( and it’s sister the pound) need another “campaign “ to prosecute. The pound will recover, and the USD will get another life. Alphabet soup. Business as usual. Have a wonderful day.