- By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist
The Thai crisis, have turned Thailand in-ward for many years now-but as Thai Intel have been saying and saying, the globe moves ahead. I still remember there, about 20 years ago, working for the Bangkok Post as a journalist, and I went to cover the then Thai central bank head, and he said, quote: “Within 5 years, Thailand will be the biggest economy in ASEAN.”
And indeed, Thailand was rocketing very close to Indonesia closing the gap very quickly. Well, things did not go as it planned. Under the Democrat Party government back then, foreign funds flooded Thailand, creating a bubble that eventually burst-and thus the Tom Yum Koong Decease.
Then since the 2006 coup, it was just one Thai crisis after another-with Thailand turning into an ultra-nationalist country-that fed on itself-killing off anything that stood in the way-rejecting globalization.
So today, when some 20 years ago Thailand was very close to Indonesia in GDP size, is now back to about 2/3 of Indonesia’s GDP, with Vietnam rocketing up.
- The joke is, some 50 years ago, Thailand was in the South Korea and Taiwan league. Then it fell to the Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore league. And now it is on the verge of falling to the Burma, Laos and Vietnam league.
There is a thing to be said about “Sufficiency” where high-up people in Thailand says, the important thing is not to become “A Tiger.” Granted, the USA and EU are prime examples of living beyond one’s means. However, Thailand is certainly “No” Switzerland with rich people already-but a back-ward developing country-where indeed the rich is rich enough but the poor are far behind.
But the problem, is that, while Thailand is en-gulf in itself, self-destructing-it is not just the Globe that is moving ahead, but ASEAN is moving ahead also. Like it or not, Thailand is not in control of its future here-but is inter connected to the globe. That means Thailand can either take advantage of the opportunities globalism offers-or become a victim from the risk of globalization.
But then perhaps Thailand will choose to stick its head in the sand.
The following is from the Bangkok Post:
Yingluck says military role will change
9/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed senior military officers from the three branches to prepare for changes in their roles as the creation of the Asean Economic Community in 2015 draws near.
As the global community expands, Thailand has to adapt itself to the changing times by thinking globally, and reaching outside its national borders.
International investors were moving their production bases to Asean countries, which presented another challenge.
Thailand must get its economy ready to take advantage of prime opportunities that stem from this industrial migration, Ms Yingluck told officers who are studying at five security colleges operated by the three branches of the armed forces.
The prime minister presided over the seminar.
Officers in attendance presented their recommendations for national and military strategies from 2012 to 2016 at the Army Club, off Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
The student officers at the meeting were from the National Defence College, Joint Staff College, Army War College, Naval War College and Air War College.
Also in her speech, the prime minister said she wanted to see improvements in democracy and the rule of law and equity, which should not be overlooked because they would lead to stability in the nation.
As for social changes, the prime minister said the government will try to come up with strategies that will help improve the well-being of all Thais, solve poverty and minimise disparities in society.
“We all have to be prepared for the words ‘change’ and ‘risk’.
“Don’t only listen to problems. After hearing them, we must make adjustments.
“Then, the government will use this occasion to solve problems in the country,” the prime minister said.
Students from the five security colleges suggested the government increase the country’s military capacity and purchase modern war weapons, including submarines and more fighter jets.
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