Tanasak the odd man out on world stage
analysis: Clumsy post-coup diplomacy has hurt efforts to win over West
Published: 30 Sep 2014
Writer: Achara Ashayagachat
Bangkok Post
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| Took huge entourage to China |
But despite the criticism that he has mis-stepped in his diplomacy bid during the early stages of his work, a window of opportunity remains open if he starts adopting civilian diplomatic thinking in handling his task.
A veteran and retired diplomatic source said the junta's explicit and desperate desire to win Western recognition has pushed its foreign affairs head to seek symbolic gestures rather than substantive initiatives.
"This should be a good opportunity to shift Thai diplomacy into higher gear. The military should know that the road to Washington DC actually leads through Beijing. If we act in favour of pivoting towards China, the United States will pay more respectful attention to us," said the source.
Disappointment with how the military has handled diplomacy after the coup even came from those who opposed the previous administration of Yingluck Shinawatra. Such people felt the military had failed in its effort to exude confidence among the international community in laying out what Thailand plans to do during the next one or two years.
Right after being appointed, Gen Tanasak should have visited Beijing in his capacity as foreign minister rather than as outgoing supreme commander, a source said.
"He should have shredded the military tunic and at least met his counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. Actually the trip to the Chinese capital should have been arranged before, not after, he attended the China-Asean Expo in Nanning," the source said.
His huge entourage, including family members who flew on a special plane to China, has left the unfortunate impression that the Thai military lacks knowledge or sensitivity in liaising with the world, the source said. By expressing unrealised hopes that Gen Tanasak could shake hands with his American counterpart John Kerry at the UN General Assembly or at the US-Asean meeting on the sidelines of UN sessions, the military made the Thai foreign minister and coup government lose prestige.
"So when Mr Kerry did not make a superficial gesture and shake hands with Gen Tanasak as the Thai side wished, it became an issue — we are losing face," the source said.
Another Foreign Ministry source said Gen Tanasak referred to "democracy'' 13 times in his speech while US President Barack Obama mentioned it seven times and UK Prime Minister David Cameron 10 times. The Thai minister's frequent references to democracy have become a joke among members of the diplomatic community.
"Fortunately, there were no Thais protesting against the coup during Gen Tanasak's time in New York. Otherwise, it would have been a truly shameful event," the official said.
Meanwhile, the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) yesterday rejected claims by Gen Tanasak on Saturday that Thailand is not retreating from democracy.
"The military general spoke, apparently without awareness of the deep irony, of the need for 'respect for the rule of law … good governance, transparency, accountability and equal access to justice'. These are the very things the military regime and its backers in Thailand have disregarded and systematically worked to destroy and undermine for the past eight years," said Walden Bello, APHR vice-president and Philippines congressman.
Eight years ago, the reactions from the US and the EU towards the previous coup were not very strong or protracted. This time the denunciations have been broader and deeper with Japan, Australia and the Philippines joining the fray.
These so-called Alliance of Democracy nations, Thai diplomatic sources noted, were waiting for the right moment to shift towards a more communicative, if not cooperative stance, with the junta.
But it was up to whether the foreign minister and prime minister would show their maturity and awareness in speaking in civilian and diplomatic language instead of commanding and asserting self-justifications.
"The window of the opportunity remains open for Thailand if [regime members] don't make missteps again. The western world is waiting for when the generals retire on October 1.
"Yet the very fact they still have seats in the National Council for Peace and Order has made those criticizing the coup feel ambivalent about making proper gestures." the source said.
