By Prashanth Parameswaran
The symbolism of a recent meeting is clear, but the substance is less so.
From February 5-7, China’s Defense Minister Chang Wanquan embarked on a visit to Thailand aimed at boosting the Sino-Thai defense relationship.
The symbolism of the visit, which occurs days before the Cobra Gold exercises – the crown jewel of the U.S.-Thailand military relationship – is clear enough. True, there was always going to be the usual pomp and circumstance in Sino-Thai relations in 2015 given that it is the 40th anniversary of ties between the two sides. But as I noted in an earlier piece on Cobra Gold, the trip also comes amid deteriorating relations between the two allies following a recent public rebuke by the highest ranking U.S. envoy to visit Thailand since a coup last May. As has often occurred in the past, Beijing is happy to opportunistically coddle non-democratic rulers to boost ties while Washington fusses over rights issues, which complicate its dealings – even if, in this case, some crucial, quiet cooperation is still intact with its oldest Asian ally.
The ruling junta, for its part, has been going out of its way recently to show Washington and the world that there are other, less conscionable partners who are willing to do business with it without fretting about the legitimacy of its rule. “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,” Thailand’s defense minister Prawit Wongsuwan said, as if to belabor the point.
Read the full story at The Diplomat