Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BANGKOK3725
2005-06-07 01:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S MEETING WITH THAI PRIME

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER PARM OVIP TH PSI 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003725 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, PM
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)
OSD FOR OSD/ISA (POWERS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM OVIP TH PSI
SUBJECT: SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S MEETING WITH THAI PRIME
MINISTER THAKSIN

REF: BANGKOK 3074

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003725

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, PM
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)
OSD FOR OSD/ISA (POWERS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM OVIP TH PSI
SUBJECT: SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S MEETING WITH THAI PRIME
MINISTER THAKSIN

REF: BANGKOK 3074

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary: Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld met on June 6
with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at Government
House in Bangkok. Secretary Rumsfeld 1) encouraged Thailand
to endorse the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
Statement of Principles; 2) sought PM Thaksin's insights into
the nature of the violence in southern Thailand; 3) asked
Thailand to consider a humanitarian assistance contribution
to Iraq; 4) enquired into the situation in Burma; and 5) made
the case for Thailand to purchase the F-16 over its
competitors. PM Thaksin 1) thanked the U.S. for its
assistance following the tsunami; 2) asked to strengthen
intelligence cooperation about southern Thailand; 3) said
that his Foreign Minister was traveling to North Korea and
that he might follow; 4) thought that China would avoid a
collision over Taiwan because that would harm its economy; 5)
suggested that Thailand would endorse the PSI if other ASEAN
partners would; and 6) said that Thailand would consider a
humanitarian deployment to Iraq if it could be done without
alienating the Muslim South. End Summary.


2. (C) Post-tsunami military cooperation: Prime Minister
Thaksin thanked the Secretary for U.S. assistance following
the December 26, 2004 tsunami and highlighted the excellent
cooperation between the U.S. and Thai militaries following
the disaster, especially the use of Utapao Naval Air Station
as a regional hub for recovery efforts. The Secretary
commented that the successful cooperation was the fruition of
50 years of joint U.S.-Thai training. Thaksin said that he
appreciates the President's designation of Thailand as a
Major Non-NATO Ally, noting the importance that Thailand
placed on its relationship with the U.S.


3. (C) The Proliferation Security Initiative: The
Secretary raised the importance of cooperative efforts to


SIPDIS
stop weapons proliferation, highlighting the importance of
the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) as a key
initiative. The Secretary urged Thailand to endorse the PSI
Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP). Thaksin said
that the RTG agrees with the SOP in principle. However, he
said Thailand would like to see other ASEAN nations besides
Singapore endorse PSI and that he would work with other
regional leaders on the issue. Foreign Minister Kantathi
Suphamongkhon promised he would remain engaged on PSI.


4. (C) Unrest in Southern Thailand: The Secretary asked
the Prime Minister for his assessment of the current
situation in the far South of Thailand. Thaksin said it is
important to put the ongoing unrest in historical context,
noting the region's long history of violence. Thaksin said
that militants use the region's history and religious
differences to indoctrinate youth to commit violence.
Admitting that the RTG had been "negligent" in meeting the
educational needs of the Muslim population in the South,
Thaksin said the RTG is working to increase non-religious
educational opportunities for Muslims. The RTG has also
begun to arrest some of the leaders behind the violence. He
said that the Thai government would be patient and follow the
rule of law. Thaksin believes that the media in Bangkok is
exaggerating the level of violence in the south. The Prime
Minister said the RTG's assessment remains that there is no
"outside influence" in southern Thailand and the issue is a
purely domestic matter. Thaksin said that while the current
intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Thailand is
good, it could be strengthened. The Secretary said he would
work to raise the level of cooperation on intelligence.


5. (C) Future Thai contribution to OIF: The Secretary
inquired about the possibility of a third Thai deployment to
Iraq. Thaksin said they were considering how to respond to
the U.S. request for an additional Thai deployment. The
Prime Minister said that any deployment would have to be
characterized as "humanitarian." He said the RTG has to
consider the impact of a future deployment on the situation
in southern Thailand, noting the sensitivities of southern
Muslims to Thai involvement. SecDef said he understands the
sensitivities but reiterated his hopes that Thailand would
consider a humanitarian contribution.


6. (C) Situation in Burma: The Secretary asked Prime
Minister Thaksin for an update on Burma. Thaksin reminded
the Secretary of the 2,400-kilometer border Thailand shared
with Burma, suggesting it influences every aspect of
Thailand's relations with its neighbor. He complained that
Thailand is already dealing with over one million illegal
Burmese migrants and an influx of narcotics. Thaksin said
that the RTG continues to attempt to engage the SPDC -- and
that he had met with the leadership of the SPDC during a
visit to Rangoon in 2004 -- but has found the regime
especially unresponsive since the removal of Khin Nyunt as
Prime Minister. Thaksin said Thailand's goals vis-a-vis
Burma are the same as the U.S., but the reality of Thailand's
border with Burma precludes the RTG from pursuing the same
strategy. Thaksin said he has been quietly urging the PRC
leadership to become more engaged on Burma and that -- behind
closed doors -- the Chinese have taken a tougher line with
the Burmese, urging reform.


7. (C) China's role in the region: Thaksin said the PRC
continued to grow in influence economically and militarily in
the region. Thaksin predicted the Chinese economy would
experience 3-4 more years of growth before a slowdown. On
Taiwan, Thaksin opined that the PRC would continue to avoid
the use of force in the Taiwan Strait. Thaksin said his
impression from regular contact with the PRC is that its
leadership is very calculating in its decision-making,
especially if related to energy and military power.


8. (C) North Korea: Thaksin reported that he had met with
Kim Young Nam, President of the DPRK Supreme People's
Assembly Presidium, on the margins of the April 22-23
Asia-Africa Summit in Indonesia and that they had discussed
the possibility of Thailand playing a mediating role with
North Korea. Thaksin said that he was dispatching Foreign
Minister Kantathi to Pyongyang July 8-12 to meet with the
DPRK leadership (reftel). Thaksin said that, depending on
the outcome of the Foreign Minister's visit, he might
personally travel to North Korea to meet with Kim Jong Il.
Secretary Rumsfeld highlighted the threat posed by North

SIPDIS
Korea's propensity to sell its WMD technology.


9. (C) F-16s: Secretary Rumsfeld urged the Royal Thai Air
Force to purchase the F-16 during its modernization effort.
Thaksin said his primary concern is the impact of the
purchase on Thailand's current account deficit, which would
not be impacted by a barter trade. Thaksin said that he
understood that Lockheed Martin was ready to propose a barter
trade agreement, and that the RTAF preferred the U.S. F-16.
Thaksin indicated that the Swedish and Russian governments
are also making strong sales pitches to select either the
Swedish Gripen or Russian SU-30 aircraft. Thaksin suggested
a decision on the procurement might be made before September.


10 (C) India: Thaksin said he is impressed by India's
performance in producing 300,000 engineering graduates per
year. Thailand has an MOU on joint naval patrols with India.
SecDef highlighted the growing U.S. relationship with India,
which also includes joint exercises.


11. (U) SecDef has not reviewed this cable. Released by ASD
Rodman
BOYCE