Nasa project to be raised with Beijing: Surapong
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Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday he would brief his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on the Nasa weather-research project proposed in conjunction with U-tapao airbase when they meet on Thursday.
Surapong is in China for four days to forge a strategic relationship with Beijing and follow up on the visit by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in April.
The Nasa project became an issue in Thailand’s relationship with China after the opposition Democrat Party claimed that by allowing the US to use U-tapao, the government would be helping to contain China in the Asia-Pacific.
Nasa has a hidden agenda to conduct scientific research for military purposes, it said.
The opposition and some senators called on the government to bring the proposal up for Parliament’s approval in accordance with Article 190 of the Constitution to show transparency.
Indeed, China raised no concerns over the project as Beijing could distinguish between a pure scientific project and a military operation, Surapong said.
The Foreign Ministry and Nasa had informed China about the proposed cooperation, he said.
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) announced the cancellation of its weather-research project last week after Thailand failed to grant permission to use the facility at U-tapao airbase on schedule.
Yingluck’s Cabinet decided to bring the proposal up for parliamentary debate in accordance with Article 179 of the Constitution when Parliament opens for the next session in August.
Nasa’s sought to use U-tapao for the operation for two months in August and September.
Surapong said he would report to Parliament by himself and urged the opposition to provide sufficient information to back up its allegation in the debate.
“No neighbouring country raised concerns over the project as the opposition alleged,” he said. “We have discussed and cleared it with all of them.”
Surapong’s visit to China was basically to follow up on cooperation on such items as a high-speed train and a water-management project initiated during Yingluck’s visit, according to the Foreign Ministry’s statement.
