China and Thailand to boost military ties over 5 years
Print Edition
CHINA and Thailand yesterday agreed to boost military ties over the next five years, from increasing intelligence sharing to fighting transnational crime.
The agreement came during a two-day visit by China’s Defense Minister Chang Wanquan to Bangkok.
“China has agreed to help Thailand increase protection of its own country and advise on technology to increase Thailand’s national security,” Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters.
“China will not intervene in Thailand’s politics but will give political support and help maintain relationships at all levels. This is China’s policy,” he said.
At the same time, Washington has sought to show its renewed commitment to a strategic “pivot” toward Asia by boosting military ties and equipment sales across the region.
Prawit said Thailand and China agreed to increase joint military exercises, but did not give further details.
“We agreed to increase joint military exercises between Thailand’s air force and China’s air force and to increase overall military cooperation over the next three to five years,” he said.
Thailand’s army took control last May saying it needed to restore order after months of political unrest including street protests in Bangkok that killed nearly 30 people.
The United States, a long-time ally of Thailand, expressed dismay at the coup and froze US$4.7 million of security-related assistance and canceled some security cooperation.
US-Thai relations deteriorated further last month when Bangkok accused Washington of meddling in its affairs after a visiting US envoy criticized the military government.
The government has said it will hold power for at least another year, with a general election planned for early 2016.
Despite the tensions, the US will hold its annual Cobra Gold combined military exercise with Thailand next week. The drill, however, has been scaled down in scope to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The drill, the Asia-Pacific’s largest annual multinational military exercise, also involves China.
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