THAI CNS CHAIR SONTHI DISCUSSES ARMS PURCHASES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000592 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2032 TAGS: PREL MARR CH TH SUBJECT: THAI CNS CHAIR SONTHI DISCUSSES ARMS PURCHASES, MILITARY TIES IN BEIJING REF: 06 BEIJING 23354 Classified By: Daniel Shields, Political Minister Counselor. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Thailand's Council of National Security Chair General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin discussed military ties and arms purchases during his January 21-24 visit to China. Sonthi met with Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and other military officials and visited China's main arms producer NORINCO and weapons factories in Beijing. A Thai Embassy official (protect) told us that Sonthi did not discuss Thailand's domestic politics or regional affairs, nor did he take advantage of the visit to make contact with ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin or his many Beijing-based supporters. The officer also commented on coming personnel changes at the Thai Embassy here and in Washington. End Summary. ¶2. (C) CNS Chair General Sonthi pledged to improve Thailand's military ties with China during his January 21-24 visit to Beijing. In meetings with Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, deputy chief of the PLA general staff Ge Zhenfeng and others, Sonthi reviewed Thailand and China's military-to-military cooperation, according to Chinese media reports. ¶3. (C) Sonthi discussed arms purchases with Chinese state-owned arms manufacturer NORINCO, a Thai Embassy political officer told us. Sonthi visited three factories for making precision weaponry and discussed purchase of light arms and some "high-tech" weaponry with the Chinese firms, according to the officer, who is not a military specialist. (Note: The political officer, Namon Yuthavong, is the daughter of the Science Minister in the Thai interim government (reftel). She said it is especially awkward for her to comment on the Thai military because of her father's position, and asked that we protect her identity throughout. End Note.) ¶4. (C) Namon said she did not know the exact nature of the arms purchases under consideration but said they were a continuation of existing programs. Asked specifically whether Sonthi discussed training or military cooperation to replace cooperation previously provided by the United States that was suspended after the coup, she gave a clear no. Sonthi declined Chinese proposals to meet with additional arms manufacturers at the end of his visit and opted instead to travel to the Great Wall, Namon told poloff. ¶5. (C) Sonthi did not discuss Thailand's domestic political situation, Sino-Thai government-to-government relations or take advantage of opportunities to raise the possibility of contact with ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his meetings in Beijing. Noting that the Thai Ambassador in China is a well-known associate of Thaksin's (reftel),Namon expressed some disappointment that Sonthi made no effort to inquire about or seek a meeting with Thaksin in the interests of Thai reconciliation, although she noted that Thaksin was traveling in Japan during Sonthi's visit. She said Sonthi professed little interest in politics but seemed satisfied to concentrate on military issues and "enjoy his first-ever visit to China." Future Thai Visits to China; Ambassadorial Change -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Namon said Thai Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont plans to visit Beijing in late February or early March. The youngest Thai Princess will visit China in early February and the Crown Prince plans a trip to Beijing later this year, Namon and MFA DDG for Southeast Asia Tong Xiaoling separately told us. ¶7. (C) Thai Ambassador to China Jullapong Nonsrichai will depart Beijing in April to be replaced by Thailand's current Ambassador to Laos, Namon said. Thailand's Ambassador in Washington is also due to return to Bangkok this year, she said, and swap positions with the current Thai Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary, who will become the Thai Ambassador to the United States. SEDNEY