China muscling U.S. aside in Thailand

BANGKOK — The United States is worried about China’s growing influence in Thailand, as Washington’s prestige appears to be fading with America’s oldest South Asian ally.

Former U.S. Ambassador Eric John warned of China’s assertive diplomacy in a confidential cable before he left his post in Bangkok in September.

Mr. John pointed out “China’s sustained, successful efforts to court Southeast Asia and Thailand” in his report to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Thai “government officials and academics sympathetic to the U.S. see the dynamic of China rising — and the U.S. receding — likely to continue, unless the U.S. takes more vigorous action to follow-up with sustained efforts to engage on issues that matter to the Thai [people] and the region, not just what is perceived as the U.S.’s own agenda,” Mr. John said in the cable released by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

Thailand and the United States established diplomatic relations in 1833.

Mr. John also said China is competing strongly with the United States on the cultural front, noting “many Chinese diplomats [who] are fully fluent” in the Thai language.

Chinese Ambassador Guan Mu is one of those Thai-speaking diplomats. He sent 17 years of his diplomatic career in Thailand, rising to the post of ambassador in 2009. Mr. Mu frequently appears on Thai television.

Mr. John, who speaks Korean and Vietnamese, sent three years in Bangkok; and the new U.S. ambassador, Kristie Kenney, who speaks French and Spanish, arrived in January.

China also has marshaled a parade of high-level visitors to Thailand in recent years.

In 2009, alone, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited Bangkok for a meetings with Asian leaders, while Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie came for military talks.

Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited China five times that year, while Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya also held talks in Beijing.

China also avoids criticizing Thailand.

In 2006, when Thailand’s military staged a coup and toppled the prime minister, Washington suspended $24 million in military assistance and restricted high-level meetings.

China described the coup as Bangkok’s internal affair, gave Thailand $49 million in military aid and increased the number of exchange students at Chinese and Thai military staff colleges. Beijing also persuaded the Thai military to participate in yearly, small-scale special forces joint exercises.

Last year, Chinese and Thai special forces held a 15-day joint antiterrorism drill, and more than 100 Chinese marines from an amphibious special warfare held exercises with their Thai counterparts.

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