7 - Epilogue: The Post-Thaksin Foreign Policy

Summary

The military coup toppled the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on 19 September 2006. Naming itself the Council of National Security (CNS), the new military regime claimed to have undertaken the coup for a number of justifiable reasons. These included: the lack of political confidence among the Thais and the impasse caused by political differences; a drastic increase in disunity among the Thai people; signs of rampant corruption, malfeasance and widespread nepotism; interference into national independent agencies, crippling their ability to function properly and to effectively solve the nation's problems; and evidence of words and actions which were proven to be against the very foundation of Thailand's democracy with the king as Head of State. In the domain of foreign relations, the CNS confirmed the country's international commitment, as follows:

1. Thailand's reaffirms adherence to the United Nations Charter and remains committed to obligations under international treaties and agreements, under the basis of equality of states.

2. Thailand's foreign policy will remain unchanged. The existing relationship between Thailand and other countries shall continue to be fostered and enhanced.

3. Thailand's international economic policy, including multilateral trade negotiations and free trade agreements, will be continued.

In reality, an unchanged foreign policy sent out a confusing message. Continuity could imply that Thaksin made no mistakes in foreign policy. Since the military coup, Thailand has had no new foreign policy initiatives. Protracted political crisis as a result of a fierce power struggle between the royalists and the pro-Thaksin movement has kept successive governments occupied with having to fight for their political survival, and therefore seeing no sense of urgency in developing foreign policy. The Thai Foreign Ministry was put in ever more awkward positions as it had to defend different governments with different political ideologies. The Thai Foreign Ministry was put in ever more awkward positions as it had to defend different governments with different political ideologies.