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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000259 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM SMIG TH
SUBJECT: DASD SCHER ADDRESSSES ASEAN CENTRALITY, U.S. ROLE 
IN THE REGION, AND THE FUTURE OF U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE 
WITH THAI COUNTERPARTS 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  During a January 21-23 visit, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia 
Robert Scher met with officials from the Ministry of Defense 
(MOD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to 
discuss a variety of bilateral and regional issues.  The 
centrality of ASEAN in the region and the importance of U.S 
involvement in this and other regional institutions were 
emphasized by both ministries.  While Director of Plans and 
Policy at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of MOD 
General Vibbhavat Rajatanun provided a positive perspective 
on expanded military exercises with China and assured Scher 
the U.S. had nothing to worry about, MFA Director General 
of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs 
Chirachai Punkrasin spoke candidly about China's increased 
engagement in the region, referring to China's approach to 
the region as "less accommodating" than in the past. 
 
¶2. (C) MOD's Vibbhavat expressed disappointment in recent 
decreased IMET and FMF funding for Thailand and noted that 
these cuts could diminish the historically close ties between 
the U.S. and Thai militaries.  In both meetings, 
Scher commended Thailand for serving as a strong ally to the 
U.S. and offered ideas on how the U.S. and Thailand 
could continue to build on their relationship, such as 
through possible U.S. participation in ASEAN Defense 
Ministerial Meetings (ADMM) Plus and bilateral mil-mil 
strategic talks.  END SUMMARY. 
 
THAILAND CONVINCED ASEAN CENTRALITY IN REGION MUST ENDURE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶3. (C) During meetings at the Ministry of Defense and the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Scher asked Thai officials 
about their impressions of emerging regional institutions 
and, more specifically, ASEAN's role within this shifting 
paradigm.  MFA's Chirachai expressed a general satisfaction 
with the current architecture of the region and an openness 
to its continuing evolution.  He did admit that some of the 
emerging institutions, such as the East Asian Summit(EAS), 
run the risk of testing ASEAN's centrality or overlapping, 
for example, proposals from Japan and Australia for an East 
Asian Community and an Asia Pacific Community. 
 
¶4.  (C) Both Chirachai and MOD's Vibbhavat believe ASEAN 
should maintain its centrality in the region, as it 
provides a comfortable forum for interaction among ASEAN 
nations and with key partners such as the U.S.  Chirachai 
indicated that the RTG wanted to enhance further ASEAN's role 
in the region and had organized a taskforce to explore 
how Thailand might take a lead role in doing this. 
 
THAILAND EMBRACES U.S. PLAN TO ENHANCE ROLE IN REGION 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶5.  Chirachai and Vibbhavat viewed U.S. interest in 
increasing engagement in the region through ASEAN - as well 
as ARF, EAS, and the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) - as 
beneficial both in terms of regional security and in terms 
of economics, and stated their belief that all ASEAN nations 
agree with this sentiment.  When DASD Scher asked 
Chirachai for thoughts on how might the U.S. engage more 
effectively in the region, the DG recommended specifically 
that the U.S. consider exploring issues of infrastructure and 
software connectivity within the region. 
 
¶6. (C) The prospect of including the U.S. in the ASEAN 
Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) was discussed in 
detail in both meetings.  Vibbhavat noted that the U.S.'s 
positive influence on regional security made it imperative 
that the U.S. be one of the plus countries involved, but also 
stressed the importance of Secretary of Defense Gates' 
direct participation in these discussions.  MOD expects that 
the RTG's ASEAN representatives would push for the 
ADMM Plus 8 scenario that would include the U.S. and Russia, 
as well as the 6 partners included in EAS, during 
the ADMM meeting in Hanoi this May.  The RTG also intended to 
encourage that the focus of this dialogue be practical 
in nature and, thus, complement the more strategic-focused 
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) rather than overlap with it. 
 
BANGKOK 00000259  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶7. (C) Vibbhavat cautioned that the Plus 8 scenario was not 
certain to be adopted, as various ASEAN nations were 
concerned about some of the potential members.  For example, 
Burma was disturbed by Japan's potential 
membership following Tokyo's recent criticism of the GOB's 
treatment of ASSK.  In addition, Vietnam was hesitant in 
including India.  Scher encouraged the RTG to think carefully 
about membership in the ADMM Plus before the 
planned first meeting in October, as adding additional 
members afterward could be complicated. 
 
¶8. (C) Chirachai presented a less optimistic impression on a 
possible expansive ADMM Plus makeup, noting that there 
was currently no consensus at the MFA - or among ASEAN 
nations for that matter - on what countries should be 
invited to join.  Scher expressed U.S. interest at the 
prospect of possibly joining the ADMM Plus meeting in 
October, recognizing it as a good forum for further dialogue 
on defense and security issues outside the ARF 
context.  However, he also pointed out that the Department of 
Defense views the annual Shangri La dialogue in Singapore as 
the centerpiece of U.S. high-level engagement in the region 
on security issues. 
 
...AND EXAMINE CHINA'S EMERGING PRESENCE AS WELL 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶9. (C) Scher asked both Vibbhavt and Chirachai to share their 
thoughts on China's growing presence in the region. 
MFA's Chirachai stated that China's influence in the region 
had increased over the past few years and that this had 
resulted in changes in how the PRC engaged the region. 
Chinese policies had become "more assertive," and their 
approach was now "less accommodating" than before.  However, 
Beijing's increased engagement in Thailand was on 
the balance productive and not surprising considering China's 
proximity to Thailand. 
 
¶10. (C) Regarding the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) plan's 
to continue small-scale military exercises with the 
PRC, including initiation of a marine and naval exercise in 
2010, Scher asked that Thailand keep us well informed 
regarding the exercises, given our longstanding relationship. 
 Vibbhavat stated that the RTG could not ignore the growing 
role of China in the region but expressed his agreement that 
RTARF should share details of these exercises with the U.S. 
 
¶11. (C) Scher described the recent increase in engagement 
between the U.S. and the PRC, characterizing the Obama 
Administration's collaborative approach as a more positive 
way to address global problems.  He expressed hope that the 
two nations could continue to find shared interests, 
particularly militarily and economically, that would help 
sustain the relationship even when we did not see eye to eye 
on political issues.  He also assured the RTG that the 
U.S. did not want to stand in the way of China emerging as a 
global power, but wanted to ensure that this growing 
Chinese power occurred within the confines of accepted 
international rules and norms, and in a way that added value 
to the region. 
 
THAILAND SEEKS INCREASE IN U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶12. (C) Both Chirachai and Vibbhavat told Scher that the RTG 
would like to see increased U.S. military assistance - 
through both the International Military Education & Training 
(IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) 
programs.  Vibbhavat noted that IMET funding levels were 
significantly less than previous years, with a current 
budget of $1.5 million compared to the $2.4 million just a 
few years earlier.  The training provided by IMET enhanced 
the knowledge and capacity of RTARF personnel and the funding 
cuts had taken a toll on the Thai military.  With 
increased IMET funding, the RTARF would be able to more 
positively impact regional security, and would continue 
close U.S.-Thai military relations.  Scher acknowledged a 
worldwide decrease in U.S. military assistance funds, and 
 
BANGKOK 00000259  003 OF 003 
 
 
stated that he would work with the Department of State to try 
to increase funding for IMET and FMF to Thailand as 
early as 2012. 
 
¶13. (C) Scher, while addressing RTG interest in receiving 
excess defense articles (EDA) from Iraq, explained that 
equipment would not be available earlier than 2014 and even 
then the items might not be in an acceptable condition due 
to extensive use, but that he would support Thailand's 
request for any EDA items available.  Stating that the U.S. 
viewed military cooperation with Thailand as important, Scher 
encouraged MOD to explore other U.S. opportunities as well, 
such as APCSS courses and Counter Terrorism Fellowship 
funding, as well as other avenues that would provide mutual 
benefit. 
 
¶14. (C) Recognizing the importance of the RTARF expanding its 
role outside of Southeast Asia, Scher confirmed that 
the USG still hoped to identify funding to assist Thai 
military procurement of body armor and recovery vehicles 
for use by Thai peacekeepers scheduled to be deployed to 
Sudan in July (Note: Such funding subsequently was 
identified the following week).  Vibbhavat told DASD Scher 
that the RTG was exploring other ways to participate in 
international peacekeeping efforts.  As such, deployments to 
Lebanon and Haiti were being considered.  Chirachai 
expressed RTG interest in pursuing increased weapons 
procurement with the U.S., and noted that a committee was 
being formed to follow up on these proposals. 
 
GOAL OF STRATEGIC 'DEFENSE TALKS' EXPLORED 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶15. (C) Scher shared EAP A/S Campbell and ASD Gregson's 
intentions to come to Thailand for a U.S.-Thai Strategic 
Dialogue in the coming months, and their hopes to establish a 
separate defense officials' dialogue.  DASD Scher, 
Chirachai, and Vibbhavat discussed potential topics for a 
mil-mil dialogue, including U.S. access to Thai training 
facilities, prepositioning of humanitarian relief supplies, 
regional security concerns, combating transnational crime, 
and China and India's roles in the region.  Vibbhavat 
expressed his desire to see this dialogue be strategic in 
nature, and conducted at the ministerial level to ensure it 
has the greatest potential for successful cooperation. 
Chirachai noted MFA's support of this dialogue and expressed 
Foreign Minister Kasit's interest in participating as well. 
 
THAI PROMISE FOLLOW-UP WITH LAOS ON THE HMONG 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶16. (C) During his meeting with Vibbhavat, Scher stressed the 
importance of the RTG's continued dialogue with the GOL 
on Hmong who had been returned to Laos in December to ensure 
that the Lao fulfill promises on the treatment of 
the Hmong and in regard to U.S. access.  Scher predicted that 
Congress would likely react negatively towards the RTG 
if the Hmong were treated poorly.  Vibbhavat expressed 
confidence that the GOL would ensure the safety of the 
repatriated Hmong and assured DASD Scher that the RTG would 
continue to monitor the situation closely. 
 
THAILAND HOPES TO DO MORE FOR HAITI 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶17. (C) Chirichai commended the U.S. for the response to the 
earthquake in Haiti, and expressed the RTG's desire to 
play a part in long-term relief efforts.  While the RTG has 
already sent $100,000 to Haiti through Mexico, Thailand 
also planned to send medical teams and supplies to Haiti in 
the future.  Chirachai stressed that the RTG would likely 
seek assistance from the UN and the U.S. to provide this aid. 
 
¶18. (SBU) DASD Scher cleared this cable. 
JOHN