A telling photo indeed
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According to its caption, the photo on Page A2 on December 17 purports to show US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel shaking hands with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. I have seen many handshakes in my time, but this is not one.
I don’t know what you’d call it. Maybe a failed grope. The complete absence of enthusiasm on both sides is palpable. Mr Russel seems to be making a feeble attempt to stroke Mr Prayut’s hand. Mr Prayut looks as if he had just been handed a dead fish. The two men aren’t even looking at each other. Whatever platitudes might emerge from this meeting lauding the traditionally warm relations between the US and Thailand (a “love relationship”, according to Thai official Panitan Wattanayagorn), this photo says it all.
Mr Body Language Expert
