Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations

By Chanlett-Avery, Emma

Book Id: WPLBN0000124019
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.2 MB
Reproduction Date: 2008

Title:	Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations
Author:	Chanlett-Avery, Emma
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Legislation., Government Printing Office (U.S.)
Collections:	Government Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Printing Office


Citation APA MLA Chicago Chanlett Avery, B. E. (n.d.). Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Excerpt
Summary: U.S.-Thailand relations are of interest to Congress because of Thailand’s status as a long-time military ally with ongoing relevance to U.S. logistical operations in Iraq, a key country in the war against terrorism in Southeast Asia, and a significant trade and economic partner. A proposed U.S.-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), currently being negotiated, would require implementing legislation to take effect.

Table of Contents
Contents Recent Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Coping with Tsunami Disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Violence in Southern Provinces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Central Government Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Possible Foreign Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Criticism of Thaksin’s Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Background: Thailand Politics and Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Path to Democratization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Thaksin’s Government Consolidates Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Recent Military Deployments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 U.S.-Thai Partnership Elevated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Intelligence Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Joint Law Enforcement Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Human Rights Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 U.S.-Thailand Trade and Economic Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1997 Economic Crisis Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Central U.S. Role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 A Protracted Process for U.S.-Thailand FTA Negotiations? . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 An Aggressive FTA Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Thailand in Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Growing Ties with China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Divergence with U.S. on Burma (Myanmar) Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 ASEAN Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Regional Health Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities in Bilateral Ties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Progress in FTA Negotiations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Military Transformation in Asia-Pacific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Direction of War on Terrorism in Southeast Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 List of Tables Table 1. U.S. Assistance to Thailand, FY2002-FY2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 List of Figures Figure 1. Map of Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18