Govt's foreign policy to have strong security underpinnings

THE FOREIGN policy of the Prayuth Chan-ocha government will have a strong security context, emphasising the country’s readiness for Asean political and security integration.

 

The government’s policies, which will be announced to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) tomorrow, focus on border management, marine security, transnational crime, building confidence with neighbouring countries, and enhancing joint military operations in Asean to prevent and settle conflicts. 

 

Border problems with neighbours will be settled through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, according to a policy paper. The government will maintain law and order in border areas to establish special economic zones. 

 

Advanced technology will be employed for border surveillance to tackle the problems of narcotics and arms smuggling, human trafficking, piracy, terrorism and trans-border crimes, it said. This government will use the royally granted strategy of understanding, reaching out and development to handle the ethno-religious conflict in the deep South and promote peace in the region. 

 

It will develop the military’s capability making it more modern and ready to protect national interests. Science and technology research and development will be enhanced to develop the national defence industry for self-reliance, it said. 

 

However, military strength will be used not only for national defence but also for disaster relief and rehabilitation. The Thai military will join Asean, regional and international forces in relief missions, it said.

 

The government will promote good relations with other countries. Foreign policy will be an integral part of the administration in political, economic and social affairs, it said. Diplomatic mechanisms will be utilised to benefit and protect Thai interests, exchange of education, culture, trade and human-resources development. 

 

Prime Minister General Prayuth’s government will have policies to enhance Thailand’s role in the Asean Community, which will come into effect by the end of next year. To that extent, the government would promote economic linkages in Asean in terms of trade and investment. 

 

Thailand will utilise regional transport and telecommunication networks to facilitate economic integration. It will comply with all agreements and pursue more pacts for the integration, it said. Bangkok will be turned into a regional hub for business, trade and investment.

 

The government will improve the country’s competitiveness to ensure the free flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labour as agreed upon by all Asean countries. 

 

It will improve labour skills for the Asean Community in accordance with the agreement to allow the free flow of skilled labour in eight sectors, it said. 

 

The government will develop and improve infrastructure for transport and logistics connectivity regionally and sub-regionally. In this connection, the government will promote cooperation in all regional and sub-regional cooperation frameworks. These include the Greater Mekong Subregion, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, and the Asean Connectivity Master Plan. 

 

The government will link production bases in communities with processing zones in order to improve the ability of local producers to access more markets locally and internationally.

 

Special economic zones will be developed in border areas, linking with the country’s main gates to neighbouring countries. The economic zones will connect with cross-border investment. 

The government will develop a “national single window” system to facilitate cross-border trade and transport, it said. 

 

These special zones will begin initially at six border checkpoints – Padang Besar, Sa Dao, Aranyaprathet, Mae Sot, Kong Luek and Klong Yai.