Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK1196
2009-05-15 09:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI HOUSE SPEAKER ON CONGRESS AND BALANCING
how-toVZCZCXRO5193 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1196 1350917 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 150917Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7030 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9668 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1611 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7038 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5490 RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 0091 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1912 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 6558 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001196
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON TH CH
SUBJECT: THAI HOUSE SPEAKER ON CONGRESS AND BALANCING
CHINESE INFLUENCE - SEEKING CLOSER THAI-US LEGISLATIVE TIES
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001196
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON TH CH
SUBJECT: THAI HOUSE SPEAKER ON CONGRESS AND BALANCING
CHINESE INFLUENCE - SEEKING CLOSER THAI-US LEGISLATIVE TIES
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) Speaker of the House of Representatives Chai Chidchob,
in a May 14 call by the Ambassador, requested assistance in
helping the Thai House build stronger ties with its U.S.
counterpart. Chai said that the Thai-American
Parliamentarian Friendship Group, consisting of 121 members,
had reached out to the U.S. legislature but had received no
response. (Subsequently, the lead Thai House staffer on this
issue clarified to us that the Group had written to the Thai
MFA to request assistance, but he did not know whether anyone
had contacted the U.S. Congress on the Group's behalf.)
2. (C) Chai explained that Thailand would host an ASEAN
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meeting in August, and he
asked the Ambassador to help ensure a U.S. representative
would attend. Chai hoped the U.S. could provide balance
against Chinese influence. He warned that China was working
actively to cultivate ties with the Thai parliament; he had
noticed that Thai legislators frequently traveled to China,
while the number of Thai MPs traveling to the U.S. had
declined.
3. (C) The Ambassador said he would try to assist, but he
added that the most effective way for the Thai House to reach
out to members of the U.S. Congress would be through a Thai
Ambassador in Washington. The fact that Thailand had been
without an Ambassador in Washington for over a year strongly
disadvantaged Thailand. (Note: As of May 13, the MFA
Director General for American Affairs believed the Thai
Ambassador-designate would receive a royal audience sometime
in June; this is the final step required before Thai
Ambassadors depart for their overseas assignments. End Note.)
4. (C) Chai also urged that the USG provide Thailand with
further assistance in economic matters, such as by not
restricting imports of Thai goods. Chai remarked that China
had become more assertive in building economic ties to
Thailand, and he hoped that China would not supplant the
U.S.'s traditional role.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON TH CH
SUBJECT: THAI HOUSE SPEAKER ON CONGRESS AND BALANCING
CHINESE INFLUENCE - SEEKING CLOSER THAI-US LEGISLATIVE TIES
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) Speaker of the House of Representatives Chai Chidchob,
in a May 14 call by the Ambassador, requested assistance in
helping the Thai House build stronger ties with its U.S.
counterpart. Chai said that the Thai-American
Parliamentarian Friendship Group, consisting of 121 members,
had reached out to the U.S. legislature but had received no
response. (Subsequently, the lead Thai House staffer on this
issue clarified to us that the Group had written to the Thai
MFA to request assistance, but he did not know whether anyone
had contacted the U.S. Congress on the Group's behalf.)
2. (C) Chai explained that Thailand would host an ASEAN
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) meeting in August, and he
asked the Ambassador to help ensure a U.S. representative
would attend. Chai hoped the U.S. could provide balance
against Chinese influence. He warned that China was working
actively to cultivate ties with the Thai parliament; he had
noticed that Thai legislators frequently traveled to China,
while the number of Thai MPs traveling to the U.S. had
declined.
3. (C) The Ambassador said he would try to assist, but he
added that the most effective way for the Thai House to reach
out to members of the U.S. Congress would be through a Thai
Ambassador in Washington. The fact that Thailand had been
without an Ambassador in Washington for over a year strongly
disadvantaged Thailand. (Note: As of May 13, the MFA
Director General for American Affairs believed the Thai
Ambassador-designate would receive a royal audience sometime
in June; this is the final step required before Thai
Ambassadors depart for their overseas assignments. End Note.)
4. (C) Chai also urged that the USG provide Thailand with
further assistance in economic matters, such as by not
restricting imports of Thai goods. Chai remarked that China
had become more assertive in building economic ties to
Thailand, and he hoped that China would not supplant the
U.S.'s traditional role.
JOHN