US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK3128

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR P, EAP, EAP/BCLTV 
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2015 
TAGS: OVIP, PGOV, MARR, MASS, TH, BURMA, China, North Korea (DPRK), POL/MIL 
SUBJECT: PACOM ADM FALLON MEETING WITH FM KANTHATI: KOREAS, 
BURMA, CHINA 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (a, d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  In a May 4 meeting with visiting PACOM 
Commander ADM William Fallon, FM Kanthati Suphamongkhon 
highlighted the close long-term relationship between the U.S. 
and Thailand and expressed gratitude for U.S. assistance 
during the tsunami crisis and for continuing joint U.S.-Thai 
training.  Kanthati said on a recent trip to North Korea 
officials told him they were afraid the withdrawal of U.S. 
forces from the peninsula could signal preparations for a 
U.S. attack, and that the North Koreans would continue to 
develop their WMD capability as a deterrence.  Kanthati said 
that Thailand was willing to serve as an intermediary between 
the U.S. and North Korea.  On Burma, the Foreign Minister 
said the Burmese leadership had told him privately that they 
would give up their upcoming ASEAN chairmanship, but only on 
their own terms.  He said Thailand remained committed to 
promoting democratization and reconciliation in Burma through 
engagement.  Mentioning China, Kanthati said the Thai would 
approach the relationship as a partnership.  END SUMMARY 
 
U.S. THAI RELATIONS - "TSUNAMI CEMENTS RELATIONSHIP" 
 
2.  (C)  Kanthati said ADM Fallon had assumed a "heavy 
responsibility" in his new position and offered Thailand's 
assistance.  He noted that Thailand and the U.S. have had 
established relations for 172 years, and suggested that ADM 
Fallon could draw on this "rich heritage" as a resource 
during his tenure.  Kanthati thanked ADM Fallon for U.S. 
assistance during the tsunami crisis, noting that the close 
and immediate cooperation between the U.S. and Thai forces 
was the dividend from years of joint training together.  ADM 
Fallon thanked the Thai Government for the use of the Thai 
Naval Air Station at Utapao and noted it was the key in the 
overall regional relief effort. 
 
3.  (C)  Kanthati highlighted the ongoing Cobra Gold exercise 
as a good example of our close working relationship.  ADM 
Fallon agreed, noting how this year Cobra Gold had evolved 
into an exercise that included many countries and civilian 
agencies.  ADM Fallon said that one of the important lessons 
from the tsunami was that the military can provide leadership 
and logistics during the initial stages after a disaster, but 
longer-term aid will need to be done by civilians.  Kanthati 
also expressed appreciation for the decisive action by the 
U.S. when a group of Somalis attempted to hijack a Thai 
fishing vessel, citing the recent action as another good 
example of U.S.-Thai cooperation. 
 
NORTH KOREA - "WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP" 
 
4.  (C)  Kanthati was eager to discuss North Korea and asked 
ADM Fallon for his latest assessment of the situation.  ADM 
Fallon said that there were many things that were unclear 
about North Korea given its isolation and secretive nature. 
ADM Fallon said the U.S. was continuing with the Six-Party 
Talks process. 
 
5.  (C)  Kanthati said that he had visited North Korea last 
year, and noted that Bangkok and Pyongyang had just 
"celebrated" thirty years of relations.  Kanthati said the 
North Korea officials had opened up to him because he is a 
German speaker, a language shared by many senior North Korean 
officers.  The Foreign Minister said the North Koreans told 
him that they did not want U.S. forces to withdraw from the 
peninsula, fearing a withdrawal would allow the U.S. to 
attack the North using standoff weapons.  Kanthati noted that 
interestingly, the North Koreans seemed to have learned the 
opposite lesson than the Libyans following the U.S. led 
invasion of Iraq.  He said the North Koreans had told him 
that the U.S. had invaded Iraq because Iraq appeared weak and 
did not have WMD; the North Koreans believe that a appearance 
of strength through possession of nuclear weapons is the only 
way to deter the U.S.  Kanthati said the North Koreans had 
indicated that they were willing to continue the Six-Party 
Talks, but would rather focus on bilateral discussions with 
the U.S.  Kanthati said that Thailand, and he personally, 
would be willing to facilitate negotiations between the U.S. 
and North Korea.  ADM Fallon thanked the Foreign Minster for 
his offer, but indicated we would continue with the Six-Party 
framework. 
 
BURMA - "SPDC WILL NOT ASSUME ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP" 
 
6.  (C)  Turning to Burma, Kanthati said he continued to 
interact regularly with the Burmese Foreign Minister -- as 
well as other ASEAN Foreign Ministers -- on the difficult 
issue.  Kanthati claimed that he continues to emphasize with 
Burmese officials the importance on progress towards 
democratization and the need to release of Aung San Suu Kyi 
(ASSK).  Kanthati said the SPDC was taking a "break" from the 
constitutional convention, and that the national 
reconciliation process would resume in November.  Kanthati 
said he is optimistic the constitutional process would be 
completed in a few months.  Kanthati said the Burmese 
leadership claimed that if they released ASSK prior to the 
completion of the national reconciliation process it would 
destabilize the country.  Kanthati said he has continued to 
press the SPDC on moving the constitutional process forward, 
but by all indications November was a firm date for a return 
to work. 
 
7.  (C)  Kanthati said that the Burmese had told him 
privately that they have "considered the importance of ASEAN 
as a whole" and are willing to withdraw from assuming the 
ASEAN Chairmanship in 2006-2007.  The Burmese Foreign 
Minister indicated that his Government would back down, but 
only at its own initiative.  Kanthati said the Burmese are 
hopeful that they will not have to "wait for their next turn" 
before assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship, and could assume the 
seat following the completion of the national reconciliation 
process. 
 
8.  (C)  Kanthati explained that the necessity for Thailand's 
engagement with Burma was based on the reality created by 
their shared 2,400-kilometer border.  He said Thailand would 
continue to interact with Burma, but would also continue to 
deliver the message of the international community.  ADM 
Fallon said he recognized the challenges of a shared border, 
but questioned Kanthati's characterization that the Burmese 
were making progress towards national reconciliation. 
Kanthati said his assessment was that the regime was indeed 
moving forward.  He claimed that the other ASEAN Foreign 
Ministers agreed with the RTG that ASEAN member countries 
needed to continue to engage with the Burmese.  Kanthati said 
that Thailand shared the U.S. objective of democracy in 
Burma.  He characterized Thailand's approach as similar to 
the U.S. approach to China - engagement. 
 
CHINA - "A PARTNER" 
 
9.  (C)  Turning to China, Kanthati said his assessment is 
that China now has the strongest influence on the Burmese 
regime.  Kanthati said that for their overall relationship 
Thailand must engage China as "a partner."  He said that the 
Thai are well aware that China could be a competitor, but 
believes that the relationship can be "win-win."  Kanthati 
believes that China can play a positive role in the region. 
 
10.  (U)  ADM Fallon has cleared this message. 
BOYCE