By Shannon Tiezzi
China sees law enforcement cooperation with Thailand as a model to follow in other relationships.
With Yu Zhengsheng, the chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a member of China’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, in Thailand this week, Chinese media is praising China-Thailand cooperation. Interestingly, Xinhua singled out law enforcement cooperation as a shining example – and a model for China to follow in conducting “neighborhood diplomacy” with other nearby countries.
The Xinhua article emphasizes that law enforcement cooperation allows both governments to catch fugitives more easily. China is particularly interested in bringing back economic fugitives as part of its anti-corruption campaign, while Xinhua notes that China has “transferred dozens of suspects wanted by Thai police in recent years.” The two countries are particularly active in working together to combat drug-trafficking and people-smuggling. In 2012, for example, the successful manhunt for drug lord Naw Kham required joint operations involving China, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.
The piece also points out that there’s a greater legal framework in place for law enforcement cooperation with Thailand. “Thailand was the first country to sign an extradition treaty with China,” Xinhua notes, and there are “other treaties and agreements between the two countries on cooperation regarding police and judicial work.” China currently has extradition treaties with 39 other countries, including ASEAN members Cambodia (1999), Laos (2002), and the Philippines (2001) in addition to Thailand (1993).
Read the full story at The Diplomat