3 January 2005: Malaysia has complained to India about its growing relationship with Thailand, particularly the defence ties between the two countries that is fast assuming the contours of a strategic partnership.
During Malaysia PM Abdullah Badawi’s visit to India, and his meeting with Manmohan Singh and defence-minister Pranab Mukherjee, he said India’s relationship with Thailand is a matter of concern to him, adding that in the past Thailand has been the “greatest betrayer of friends”.
He also cautioned India that Thailand has turned its back on its neighbours even in case of a minor crisis.
Officials said Badawi warned that the Thai military was not an institutionalised armed force, and that it worked for various foreign countries and interests on contract.
Malaysia and Thailand are neighbours but have had differences for over three decades, ranging from border disputes to terrorism, the spread of Islamic fundamentalism, money laundering, smuggling, and alliances with foreign countries.
The Malaysian PM has told the Indian side that the CIA is operating in Thailand in a major way, and that the US may use the Thais against India.
Malaysia is particularly concerned about India’s military tie up with the Thai navy and coastguard to jointly patrol the Strait of Malacca and Gulf of Thailand.
At the same time, the Malaysian PM has said that Malaysia holds the key for India’s ambitions in the Malacca Strait and South China Sea, and that his country is ready for a strategic partnership with India, provided ties with Thailand are scaled down.
India is showing a lot of eagerness recently to establish herself as a regional superpower. In due process, it is disturbing the balance of power, which has been established in the region for last 20 years or so. It would be interesting to see China’s reaction as it has a lot of influence in South East Asia. However, I do admire enthusiastic ambitions of India. Those who think high fly high too.
i don't see the implication. apart from irrelevant things like textiles export, etc...in what significant and relevant way are Indonesia and Malaysia rivals?
Thai land bhai, not Indonesia..so now go and wonder about how malaysia and thailand are rivals.
waisay article mein likha hai
*Malaysia and Thailand are neighbours but have had differences for over three decades, ranging from border disputes to terrorism, the spread of Islamic fundamentalism, money laundering, smuggling, and alliances with foreign countries. *
oops, i meant Thailand. thank you bhai. what tangible disadvantage does Malaysia face if Thailand betters ties with foreign countries? In what way does Thailand pose a threat to Malaysia? money laundering and smuggling? this must be some joke.
this type of complaint seems very similar to the types expressed by India and Pakistan, but in their case there is a very obvious conflict and rivalry, and in some situations…betterment of foreign relations for one country can be seen as a direct threat to the other.
I had stated in a post under the thread "India rejecting Aid for Tsunami Disaster" that it (India) is fast becoming the region's Gunda. I think this, and countless other articles are beginning to bear this out.
They do not arguably work against our national interests in the sense that they are illegally occupying a part of Pakistan, nor do they dream of annihilation of the Pakistani nation..particularly the UK (agreed to the creation of Pak) and China (a strong regional ally). See the difference?
yarr Nicolas, Rajput is trying to explian why India is a Goonda power and why China or UK who are superpowers too are not goonda powers…He is however analyzing the whole situation from Pakistan’s perspective…
acha to us is not intersted in harming pak? not helping in times of need is worse than harming... what happened to us in 1971? why didnt they come to help pak? for that matter, ur best friend china was mum all the time that indian troops swooped over dhaka... how come none of pak's friends even murmured against it???