Kasit says neutrality should be practical, not rigid

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Kasit says neutrality should be practical, not rigid

Former foreign minister sees value in welcoming all sides, but condemns govt for not being open about talks with US

Published: 24 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

'I don't accept that we need to be neutral. We are never neutral. We are allies but we need to make sure to balance our interests, not be a tool of the United States to restrict China, nor are we friendly with India in order to help the US contain China," said Kasit Piromya, former foreign minister, in an interview with Post Today on the occasion of US President Barack Obama's visit to Thailand this week.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao signs the visitor’s book at Government House as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra looks on. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Asked to comment about the Yingluck Shinawatra government's decision to enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks as well as the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) talks aimed at stopping the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction during the regional East Asian summit held in Phnom Penh, Mr Kasit was critical of the government's rushed decisions.

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schuimpje
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Discussion 3 : 25 Nov 2012 at 07.423
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Domdunn, very easy said, let them go bust... The key point is, prices will go up, so the effect of wage increase will be 0 in many areas.
More important though, more people jobless and less tax income for state.

I can not raise productivity much.. My workers often work in full sun, carrying heavy goods. I don't want them work 3 days and be sick with back pain the rest of the week. And no, there's not much I can do to improve their work as it is all loading on-site with customers.
Very easy to give snarky comments as a lazy-chair Employers expert...
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domdunnn
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Discussion 2 : 24 Nov 2012 at 13.002
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Maybe Kasit should heed his own advice and try being neutral rather than forever rigid.
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domdunnn
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Discussion 1 : 24 Nov 2012 at 12.581
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If businesses cannot raise their workers productivity or pass on cost increases they are not viable and should be allowed to go bust. Clear the way for a new generation of entrepreneurs.
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Kasit says neutrality should be practical, not rigid | Bangkok Post: news