BANGKOK — The United States and Thailand pledged Nov. 15 to renew their military alliance for a new security era as Washington’s defense chief carried out a regional tour designed to counter China’s rise.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the new joint defense declaration between the decades-old allies had “moved this alliance into the 21st century”.
The last time the two nations drafted such a joint declaration was in 1962, when the United States promised to defend Thailand from “communist aggression.”
Although the new statement made no reference to China’s rising military power, Washington’s strategic tilt to the Asia-Pacific is meant to offset Beijing’s clout and maintain American influence there.
The United States promised “an enduring presence in the Asia-Pacific” and recognized Thailand as a “regional leader.”
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