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"Beijing must discourage Thai military coup" (7 February 2014)
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Beijing must discourage Thai military coup
By Ding Gang (Global Times) 15:33, February 07, 2014
"We certainly do not want to see a coup or violence,"
said US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki in Washington on Monday
responding to journalists' questions.
"We are speaking directly to all elements of Thai
society to make clear the importance of using democratic and
constitutional means to resolve political differences," she said.
The stance of the US may be one important reason for
why a coup still hasn't taken place in Thailand. Even in today's Asia,
where the economic pattern keeps changing, the US' political influence
on Southeast Asian countries can never be underestimated.
In 2006, then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was
deposed in a military coup. The US declared itself "disappointed" in the
coup, though with a rather weak tone. Some lawmakers believed that
Washington's moves only showed it had given up support for an orderly
democracy in Thailand.
Prior to the country's 2011 elections, some US
lawmakers proposed that given Thaksin's sister Yingluck was likely to
win, the US government should request that the monarchy and the military
accept the result and not interfere in the democratic process.
The US' latest statements about the current situation
in Thailand reflect Washington's focus in its pivot to Asia strategy,
which aims to expand its "flag effect" through supporting the democratic
process of Asian countries. Indeed, the US' moves have helped it win
the hearts of people in Southeast Asia.
So far, the political chaos in Thailand has lasted for
more than three months. Rumors of a military coup have been spreading.
These rumors have not turned into reality, showing the growing strength
of public opposition to a military coup.
Compared to the US, the interests of China may be more
pertinent to the evolution of Thailand's politics. However, so far,
China's stance has remained balanced, as it always is.
China can stick to its principles as it has done in
dealing with past similar affairs and encourage the opposing sides to
walk out of the deadlock through political means. Nonetheless, it can be
clearer in its objection to a military coup.
This has nothing to do with following the example of
the US. Rather, such a declaration will suit the overall interests of
China and the whole of Asia. A military coup will not bring real
democracy. Facts have already shown that a coup will only result in a
disrupted democratic process and growing discrepancies between opposing
sides.
Thailand is a core country of ASEAN. The stability of
Thailand affects that of the whole of Southeast Asia. The current period
is a time of economic integration of ASEAN. The political turbulence in
Thailand will likely drag out this process, thus having a negative
impact on the economic development of the entire region.
Thailand also plays a coordinating role in China's
relations with ASEAN. China is at an important stage of upgrading the
free trade zone with ASEAN. Therefore, maintaining stability in Thailand
is vital to China's interests.
There is the possibility that a military coup takes
place in Thailand. Even if it does become a reality, the relationship
between China and Thailand will not be affected due to China's stance.
We should be confident about that.
Real friends not only share plights, but also point out the right way when the other is mired in trouble.
Since 1932, when Thailand established its
constitutional monarchy, the country has followed a troubled democratic
process of over 80 years, but it has never rid itself of the vicious
circle of military coups.
No one expects the sharp contradictions among
Thailand's different interest groups to be eliminated in a short period,
but as long as the achievements of democracy are not undone by
undemocratic means, this is already a great step forward.
Most of China's neighboring countries are in a phase of
political transition. How to strengthen ties with these countries when
their democratic process is experiencing fluctuations is the main test
for China's relations with them in the future. China, as a major
regional power, should encourage Thailand's opposing sides to achieve
reconciliation, promote institutional improvement and establish
foundations for good governance through the will of the Thai people and
political means.
The author is a senior editor with People's Daily. He is now stationed in Brazil.
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