A Change of Guard

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Friday 25 February 2011

Red Suits: Geopolitics of South East Asian Region

February 23, 2011
Op-Ed by Justin Sok

The world was made to believe that the Cold War was in a rearview mirror. In fact, the Cold War was dormant but now it has transformed its image and political strategy. It is once again, at a stretch, permeating in the Southeast Asia region. Southeast Asia has been a Red region. It is a conglomeration of nations like the People’s Republic of China and her allies - North Korea, Myanmar, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and her political satellite states - Laos, the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Khmer Kampuchea Krom. The Kingdom of Thailand is the only nation situated in the epicenter of the Reds, which has continued to get support from the west and other countries in Europe. The magnetic force is starting to pull. The collective political objective of the Reds in this region was to enlist the Kingdom of Thailand as their new member. The Reds will no longer tolerate the Kingdom of Thailand to exercise her free will. The Kingdom of Thailand has to make a choice!

The recent skirmish between the two Kingdoms (Cambodia and Thailand) that the public had initially perceived that PM Hun Sen, who has political ambition to pave the political platform for his son, Hun Manet, to be the next Prime Minister, was merely a speculation. However, the ultra political agenda that was hidden behind the Reds’ curtain, which has led to the recent clash between the two Kingdoms still, is (1) the geopolitical expansion strategy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, “keep on stoking the fire,” and that (2) Southeast Asia region has been and will always be the playground of the great Dragon.

The recent tension between the two Kingdoms has also given the Reds an opportunity to refocusing and zeroing in on their geopolitical landscape in that region. It is speculated that the Reds would continue fanning the flame to embroil the two Kingdoms into an inferno. Dishonorably, the Reds have indirectly chosen to navigate their geopolitical strategy. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is currently balancing her feet into two boats - mesmerizing the west, attempting to obtain the American dollars and resources, while at the same time, domesticating the great Dragon for support. The People’s Republic of China, on the other hand, has severely impacted the world’s economy. Her patron has always been the west, who owes her billions of dollars in debt. The Reds have continued to employ the Kingdom of Cambodia and molding her as their political tool to create political and economical instability in the region. While the Kingdom of Thailand had her own internal political conflicts, the Reds have taken an opportunity to exploit the situations and prodded the two Kingdoms to ignite a fire. Their political intention, subsequently, has been pulling the Kingdom of Thailand into their fire pit. The Reds would have anxiously anticipated seeing how the west would react.

If the war were going to continue on, as the Reds would like to have happen, it would be the "Winner take all," in this region. If the western world were going to succeed in their quest of planting their seeds of democracy in this region, it needs the People’s Power. It would be the end of all Communism in this region. However, if the Reds’ flag is going to continue to flourish, and fluttering spreading across the region, it would be another iron curtain, and the Kingdom of Cambodia, as it has always been, would be a very unfortunate nation.

The recent political conflict between the two Kingdoms has turned the tables on the Kingdom of Thailand. To put an end to this fire and preventing from propagating, the two Kingdoms would have to extend to one another, an olive branch, and initiate diplomatic negotiations. It would be more so, on the “bilateral” terms agreement. Whatever political strategy the two Kingdoms would implement to effectively resolve this conflict peacefully, they must put an end to this fire. Ending this political conflict, will insure that it would benefit for both Kingdoms and their people and it will create healthy political climate and economical stability in the region. In addition, the two Kingdoms would have more opportunity for the diplomatic ties to the west and EU. If the diplomatic negotiations fail, the UN and the international community would have to be the scarecrow, aggressively and decisively mediate and monitor the conflict between the two Kingdoms.

Question:

Was it logical for the Commander in Chiefs from both Kingdoms to put their people and countries at risk and to fashion their political strategy to justify their war because of the following reason(s): 1) the 4.6 km/1.8 sq. miles, 2) strut of their national credibility and competence for the next general election, 3) the two Thai prisoners, and 4) any or all of the above reasons?

Thank you.

Justin C. Sok
February 23, 2011

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Justin, I understand your analysis from reading your comments. However, what you fail to recognize is that there is no 4.6sq km as you stated. It was fabricated by the Siems for Western media comsumption. For us Khmer, we always use international court with proven documents to show that the area is Khmer territory. It's been decided already by the World Court in 1962. You may see as a justification for Hun Sen to maneuver his political move, however many Khmers believe that Siem had violated her sovereignty. As such, the government had to act according to it's constitution established in 1991. Hun Sen doesnt need war to win another election. It has been proven that he can do without.

Anonymous said...

Royal Thai Military Weapons are

Equipment Quantity
High quality main battle tanks 581
Medium and low quality tanks 460
APCs, IFVs, ARVs, LCVs 1414
Self-propelled artillery 1079
Combat warplanes 171+AV8 168
Transport warplanes 114
Training warplanes 74
Military helicopters 300
aircraft carrier batteries 110
Warships 17 17 2 LPD
Fast Attack Craft-Missile (FAC-M)s 660
Patrol boats 127

Plus unlimited supply from US and Sweden, China, Russia, France

Anonymous said...

True, the ICJ decision in 1962 had made it very clear already that there is no disputed zone or the 4.6sq.km like what Thailand had claimed. I'm still puzzled as to why many Khmer so-called analysts like to mention about the 4.6 sq.km as a disputed zone. Even the prominent professor Dr. Peang-Meth had also been mesmerized to believe that the 4.6 sq.km is a disputed zone. The 1908 map and the 1962 ICJ verdict say it all, no question ask.

Anonymous said...

11:26AM, I'm 100% agree with you. How in the world could a retired college professor misinformed the true fact. Or maybe he is playing a devil's advocate. I think not. Dr. Peang-Meth need to re-evaluate his analysis.

Anonymous said...

Shut up!!! You don't need to right nonscents! 4.6 is Khmer land, period. The end!! What you should write about is, why don't we fight for koh tral to if Hun sen really care of saving our baby island or land?!? This, I am truly puzzled and beyond your mind can comprehend!!!!! Yes We should go to go for 4.6km!! For koh tral is next!!!!