After only four months in office, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled his” seller diplomacy” strategy in November of last year at a meeting with Thai ambassadors and ministers basic at Thailand’s Foreign Ministry.
Following the speech, a number of foreign relations experts suggested that the PM should concentrate on rebalancing the country’s relationship with superpower nations rather than just increasing its revenue.
They continued by saying that Mr. Srettha needs to take into account the state of the world and have a firm stance on global problems. Experts also looked at some of Mr. Srettha’s earlier behavior, such as his presence at the September 78th treatment of the UN General Assembly.
In his potential as” the number 1 seller of Thailand,” as he refers to himself, it was his first journey as prime minister.
Mr. Srettha met with members of more than ten top US companies while he was in New York and extended an invitation to them to continue investing in Thailand. The following month, Mr. Srettha and Russian President Vladimir Putin both attended a Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI ) forum in Beijing that was hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mr. Srettha suggested a area bridge job to connect with China’s BRI at the event. During Apec 2023, he likewise extended an invitation to the US to make a land bridge investment.
” Team Thailand.”
Despite the fact that both leaders see themselves as the best salesman in their respective nations, Anekchai Rueangrattanakorn, an complement lecturer in social sciences at Silpakorn University, claimed that Mr. Srettha’s trade-centric diplomacy differs from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.
According to Mr. Anekchai, the Thai PM is attempting to sell both goods and honesty in order to draw in more foreign funding while the South Korean president may concentrate on commercializing nuclear power and weapons.
To make the plan more appealing, Mr. Srettha also emphasizes the significance of “team Thailand,” which consists of all Thai officials and specialized organizations like the Board of Investment, on both the domestic and international levels.
In order to open up more business windows, the PM even emphasizes global cooperation and connection between the Foreign Ministry, Commerce Ministry and the government, he said.
According to him,” Salesman politics will help draw in foreign investment and give Thailand a free, fair, open, and predictable trade environment because trade regulations will need to be modified in accordance with international standards.” The places of democracy, fundamental human rights, the rule of law, and a willingness to contribute to solutions to ongoing global problems like climate change, bio-circular- green economy and the switch to clear energy may even be included in this.
Mr. Anekchai stated that some legal restrictions and rules that promote trade and investment have already been taken into consideration and amended in support of the PM’s plan. He did, however, add that it was still very early to assess their efficacy.
Although the amount of foreign direct investment this year increased by 43 % over the previous month, Mr. Anekchai pointed out that it was not just under his supervision.
He predicted that the PM’s seller politics would encounter a number of obstacles, such as superpower geopolitics, trade wars, the Hamas-Israeli conflict, disputes in the South China Sea, new diseases, and international investors ‘ worries about Thailand’political unrest.
Mr. Anekchai advised the new government to properly plan its foreign policy while keeping in mind the shifts in the global order and to adjust its ties with superpowers, especially China and the US, in order to address these issues. Due to its lack of freedom, the new state will also need to abandon the outdated Thai foreign policy that has been in place since the 2014 revolt.
Anekchai: The PM’s trade-focused politics is different from that of South Korea.
strategic approach
The new foreign policy, according to Sorasich Swangsilp, chairman of the social policy and development program at Thammasat University, will help Thailand place itself more favorably on the international stage.
It reflects the nation’s strategic approach, which incorporates from a business standpoint, he claimed.
But, Mr. Sorasich asserted that the government must be more proactive and clear. It must comprehend Thai trademarks, including names, beliefs, and concepts, in both tangible and intangible property.
According to Mr. Sorasich,” Salesman diplomacy may put Thailand up on the radar in global affairs.”
Thailand’s global part had previously faced many challenges as a result of the coup and the new administration, particularly with institutions and nations that uphold democratic values and principles. The nation was forced to abandon its effective role as a result.
The effectiveness of Thailand’s ability to address and add to important world issues will determine whether or not the new position is a success, he said.
Thailand needs a clear perspective and manner, he said, and policymakers need to keep an eye on the condition.
Although independence is a clear component of this international scheme, he asserted that Thailand should never treat all nations equally.
International standards and principles, as well as relationships between key powers and their allies, should be taken into account. According to Mr. Sorasich, a ambiguous stance may convey the wrong message to the international community and may impede efforts to regain attention.
Sorasich: The nation’s strategic technique is reflected in its fresh foreign policy.
the outskirts of the city
Social sciences lecturer Oratai Soparat from Naraesuan University thinks the new foreign scheme primarily targets deep-pocket investors and high-end business owners.
She suggested that Mr. Srettha use this foreign legislation to significantly enhance monetary assistance, particularly between Asean nations like Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia.
According to her,” the policy should shift its emphasis from monetary assistance to one that rewards people from various courses.”
Only a select few big manufacturers would gain from marketer politics, according to Ms. Oratai. She added that she believed Mr. Srettha did not take clear action to alleviate the problems in Myanmar through the five-point discussion, despite the fact that he had emphasized his support for democracy.
She claimed that while Indonesia and Singapore had more assertive positions, Thailand, as Asean’s primary mediator and mediator, had not put distinct pressure on Myanmar. That makes Thailand’s position on politics still in doubt, she claimed.
Even though Mr. Srettha emphasized bolstering democracy and improving living conditions in Thailand during his visit to the 78th treatment of the UN General Assembly, Ms. Oratai said that such a position might not be able to represent the “beautiful transfer of Thai politics.” ” His behavior are still a mystery.”
She added that Thailand’s fresh foreign policy must maintain a firm adherence to the rule of law and human rights principles in order to balance its relationship with major international forces. The stance should also be applied when addressing another world issues, such as the wars between Israel and Ukraine and Russia and Hamas and Israel.
It is essential that this new international policy be more honest in upholding political ideals.
Oratai: The international policy plan focuses more on wealthy individuals.