WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s nominee to be US ambassador to Thailand mentioned on Tuesday (Jul 29) that if confirmed, he would clarify to Bangkok that border clashes like its current skirmish with Cambodia undermine each the Thai folks and the US-Thailand alliance.
Sean O’Neill, a profession overseas service officer who has served twice earlier than as a diplomat in Thailand, made the remarks at his Senate affirmation listening to when requested about 5 days of combating between Thailand and Cambodia. The clashes killed at the least 43 folks and displaced over 300,000.
CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT AFTER CLASHES
Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire to halt their deadliest battle in additional than a decade. The settlement got here after Trump warned each governments over the weekend that commerce negotiations with the US wouldn’t progress if combating continued.
Requested how he would work to show the ceasefire right into a long-term peace, O’Neill mentioned: “I believe the very first thing I’d do is to level out to Thailand, which is considered one of our solely treaty allies in Asia, that wars like this, conflicts like this, do nothing to assist their folks.
“They do nothing to strengthen our alliance, they do nothing to handle the challenges that each of our nations face. They’re only a useless waste of life and treasure.”
MYANMAR ELECTIONS CALLED INTO QUESTION
O’Neill additionally mentioned Thailand mustn’t lend legitimacy to the navy authorities in neighboring Myanmar. He famous that the State Division’s place was to discourage “sham” elections that Myanmar’s junta is planning for the autumn.
“If confirmed, I’d encourage Thailand to not acknowledge an election that doesn’t embrace the participation of over 50% of the nation, whereas a lot of the opposition leaders are in jail,” he mentioned.
