Commemorating the 175th Years of US - Thai friendship
See 'US presence in Southeast Asia' from the Education sectionLesson by Boon Boonprayoon
March 20, 2008 marks the 175th anniversary of the establishment of formal relations between the United States and Thailand. The strong relationship between the United States and Thailand is found in many areas of the society. I was fortunate to witness one such contributions from the United States. It made a difference to less fortunate children in Isan through one of the non-profit organizations, The American Chamber of Commerce, where my mother used to work. There, the diplomats, expatriates and businesspersons, apart from carrying out their career responsibilities, joined together to help develop the remote areas across our country.
In addition, there are scholarships distributed from US-based foundations, and there are also charities, fund-raising fairs and donations made to Thailand. Most of you in the younger generation, might not be familiar with such terms as 'PEACE CORPS', but I am sure that you would have heard about AFS foundation and its grants and, probably, the Fulbright Scholarship. These are all education and cultural exchange programmes initiated by the US government agencies and the non-profit organisations alike.
Today articles talks gives the views of Christopher R. Hill, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on the North Korean nuclear issue. The interesting thing is that Hill regards Thailand as a good example where a strong sense of community has been built and this should be widely recognised. To explain the relationship between the United States and the Southeast Asian region, particularly Thailand, to us all, Hill referrs to the aid projects the US has been involved in. Read on to find out what they are.
mark - to celebrate or officially remember an event that you consider to be important ฉลอง
expatriate - a person living in a country that is not their own ชาวต่างชาติ
contribution - a sum of money that is given to a person or an organization in order to help pay for something; donation การอุทิศ / บริจาค
distribute - to give things to a large number of people; to share something between a number of people แจกจ่าย
charity - an organization for helping people in need องค์กรการกุศล
donation - something that is given to a person or an organization such as a charity, in order to help them; the act of giving something in this way เงินหรือสิ่งของที่บริจาค
grant - a sum of money that is given by the government or by another organization to be used for a particular purpose ทุนการศึกษา
initiate - to make something begin; set in motion ริเริ่ม
recognise - to admit or to be aware that something exists or is true
regard - to think about something / somebody in a particular way คิด
สหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นประเทศหนึ่งที่มีบทบาทเด่นชัดในการใช้ความช่วยเหลือประเทศที่ด้อยพัฒนา หรือประเทศที่กำลังพัฒนา ความช่วยเหลือจากสหรัฐอเมริกาสามารถพบได้ในแทบทุกหน่วยของสังคม เช่น ทางด้านการศึกษา สหรัฐมีหน่วยงานอิสระ และมูลนิธิต่างๆ ที่สนับสนุนให้เด็กต่างชาติได้มีโอกาสไปเรียนรู้และแลกเปลี่ยนประสบการณ์ในสหรัฐ เช่น AFS, หรือมูลนิธิ Fulbright เป็นต้น
ทางด้านการเมือง เราจะเห็นได้จากข่าวในแต่ละวันว่านโยบายต่างๆ ทางการเมืองและความมั่นคงของสหรัฐมีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับหลายประเทศทั่วโลก ในบางทรรศนะก็ถือว่าเป็นการช่วยเหลือที่เต็มไปด้วยความปรารถนาดี แต่บางทรรศนะก็มองว่าภายใต้การให้ความช่วยเหลือต่างๆ นั้นสหรัฐก็เก็บเกี่ยวผลประโยชน์ให้กับประเทศตนไม่ใช่น้อย
แต่ในวันนี้บทความที่เลือกมา สะท้อนให้เห็นความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมโลกของสหรัฐ และประเทศต่างๆ อีกหลายประเทศรวมถึีงประเทศไทยที่ร่วมกันสร้างความสมานฉันท์ของสังคมโลกและพยายามลดอาวุธนิวเคลียร์ซึ่งถือว่าเป็นอาวุธร้ายแรงที่อาจก่อให้เกิดความเสียหายใหญ่หลวง
เมื่อตกอยู่ในการครอบครองของผู้ที่เสี่ยงต่อความมั่นคงของประชาคมโลก
US presence in Southeast Asia
A group of academics and diplomats joined a special public lecture given by Christopher Hill, famed for his effort in negotiating the North Korean nuclear issueStory and photo by Weena Noppakunthong
Eric John, US Ambassador to Thailand, left, and
Christopher Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and
Pacific Affairs, right, are seen on state at Chulalongkorn University
on February 29.The newly established American Studies Program at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science welcomed Christopher R Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to give a public lecture to more than 300 academics, diplomats, students and other guests from the public and private sector.
With a lecture titled, “Perspectives on the United State’s relations with Thailand and Southeast Asia”, Hill praised the sense of community in Southeast Asia and signaled countries in Northeast Asia to achieve similar relationships.
Dr Werasak Udomkichdecha, vice president of Chulalongkorn University, highlighted Hill’s past contribution as a US special envoy who dealt with peace negotiations in Kosovo between 1998 to 1999; his service as US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Poland and the Republic of Macedonia; and his key diplomatic role in Europe and Asia over the past two decades.
His more recent efforts include contributing to the six-party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
Thailand and the US
Thailand and the US have cooperated in the spirit of friendship ever since the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was mutually signed on March 20, 1833 -- and to commemorate the 175th anniversary of bilateral ties, 175 trees were planted at Chatuchak park.
Hill points out that education is part of what makes the relationship between Thailand and the US special. Many Thai students study in the United States and some American students study in Thailand. “We have strong cultural ties, symbolized by our educational institutions,” says Hill.
In terms of an economic relationship, there is $20 billion (623.6 trillion baht) in direct foreign investment from the US to Thailand and $30 billion in bilateral trade, he adds. The US also provides a large market for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) exports, he says, purchasing more than $110 billion of Asean goods.
The US plays a major role in the region with its humanitarian aid, and it made positive contributions when the recent tsunami affected Thailand. The country has also strengthened ties throughout Asia with security agreements and treaty alliances.
sense – a feeling about something important ความตระหนักถึงความสำคัญ
contribution – an action or a service that helps to cause or increase something การอุทิศตน
envoy – a person who represents a government or an organization and is sent as a representative to talk to other governments and organizations นักการทูต
diplomatic – connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy) ทางการทูต
mutually – felt or done equally by two or more people ร่วมกันสองฝ่าย
commemorate – to remind people of an important person or event from the past with a special action or object; to exist to remind people of a person or an event from the past ฉลอง เพื่อระลึกถึง
tie – a strong connection between people or organizations ความสัมพันธ์
bilateral – involving two groups of people or two countries สองฝ่าย
humanitarian aid – money, food, etc. that is sent to help countries in difficult situation ความช่วยทางมนุษยชน
strengthen – to become stronger เสริมให้เข้มแข็ง
treaty – a formal agreement between two or more countries สนธิสัญญา
alliance – an agreement between countries, political parties, etc. to work together in order to achieve something that they all want พันธมิตร
Thailand and Asean
Thailand was a founding member when Asean first formed on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok. The country’s position of leadership was recently magnified as Thailand’s Surin Pitsuwan was endorsed as the Asean Secretary-General for years 2008-2012.
Thailand will also become a focal point in November when it hosts the next Asean summit. We really look forward to seeing Thailand in its leadership role throughout the region,” says Hill.
Hill praises Asean for building a sense of community in the region. However, he acknowledges that Asean has ongoing issues, such as the recent human rights violations in Myanmar. Hill points out the geo-strategic importance of Myanmar, saying it would be advantageous for the country to work better with Asean.
A charter is needed to solve the ongoing issues, Hill believes, and to make Asean alliances stronger.
Sense of community
Hill says he has been working hard to develop the sense of community in Asean countries over the last 30 years, and he wants to see that same sense of community also established in Northeast Asia.
He believes that a serious problem is North Korea’s desire to build nuclear weapons, and he reiterates that Northeast Asia needs to solve this crisis before a stable sense of community can be built. “We need to make other countries understand that the nuclear weapons held by North Korea are not just a US problem; they are problems for all in North Korea’s neighborhood,” adds Hill.
The six-party talks, comprising China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the US is an attempt to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The US has been working on incentives to get North Korea not only to shut down, but to also disable its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon. The US is also asking North Korea to make a declaration of all its nuclear programs and facilities, he says.
Despite talk that the US is drifting away from Southeast Asia as China becomes more economically important, Hill says, “more of China does not mean less of the US.” We feel that the US and China aren’t in competition for Southeast Asia, he says, both countries can work together in the region.
found – to start something, such as an organization or an institution, especially by providing money; establish ก่อตั้ง
magnify – to make something bigger, louder or stronger ขยาย
endorse – to say publicly that you support a person, statement or course of action ประกาศ
focal point – a thing or person that is the centre of interest or activity จุดสดใจ
acknowledge – to accept that somebody /something has a particular authority or status; recognize ตระหนักรู้
violation - an act that goes against or refuses to obey a law, an agreement, etc. ฝ่าฝืน
ongoing – continuing to exist or develop ที่พัฒนา
issue – an important topic that people are discussing or arguing about ประเด็น
reiterate – to repeat something that you have already said, especially to emphasize it
comprise – o have somebody /something as parts or members; consist of ประกอบด้วย
incentive – something that encourages you to do something แรงกระตุ้น
facility – buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for a particular purpose
declaration – an official written statement giving information ประกาศ
drift away – a slow steady movement from one place to another; a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to something bad
Exercise:
1. Apart from being a former envoy in peace talks in Kosovo, what has been Christopher R. Hill's contribution to world peace?
2. What was done in order to commemorate the 175th year of the U.S.-Thailand relations?
3. What important role did Thailand play in the establishment of the Asean?
4. Where will the next Asean summit be held?
5. Does North Korea declare its production of nuclear weapon? What is the attempt the six countries making in dealing with North Korean nuclear programme?
Answers:
Exercise:
1. Making efforts in six-party talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
2. 175 trees were planted in Chatuchak Park.
3. Thailand was the founding member and the Asean was formed in Bangkok.
4. In Bangkok
5. No, she does not. The six countries including China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the US are trying to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. The US has been working on incentives to get North Korea not only to shut down, but to also disable its facilities in Yongbyon.