NASA in talks to remount climate study

The US is willing to give full cooperation with Thailand on climate research next year, says Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

Published: 03/10/2012 at 12:00 AM
Writer: Manop Thip-Osod

Though the climate study project for this year was scrapped by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), Thailand and the US have been in discussions over the project, Mr Surapong said during a parliamentary debate on whether to allow the US space agency to conduct the climate study from U-tapao military airport in Rayong.

There will be no new conditions for the venture if Nasa's research project is revived, the foreign minister said.

Earlier, the government invited representatives from Nasa and the US Department of State to give further information about the climate research project on Sept 26.

Mr Surapong said the US has offered to create understanding about Nasa's project among Thailand's neighbouring countries, including those where Nasa will fly over their skies.

China has also raised no objection to the project, he added.

Nasa earlier this year asked the government for permission to use the airport to conduct what it called a Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study.

The proposal hit a snag when the government, citing national security concerns, postponed a decision on whether to approve the request until August, forcing Nasa to withdraw the request due to time constraints.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung told parliament yesterday it was necessary to put the issue to parliament for a debate after the US cancelled the climate research project on June 26.

The project would have gone ahead to the benefit of the country if false claims had not been levelled against it, said the deputy prime minister.

Several countries, including Singapore and Cambodia, had allowed Nasa to fly over their skies, he said.

"There were allegations going around that Thailand would lose its sovereignty and be spied on by the US [if the project was granted permission]. This is all untrue," Mr Chalerm said.

Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the project was cancelled for a reason.

If it was to be revived next year, the government must come up with details of the project.

Now, there was only a one-page paper about the project, Mr Abhisit told the parliamentary debate.

It must be stated clearly in the terms of the cooperation whether details of the project will cover the use of U-tapao military airport.

"The government must be clear on this. For us here it's pointless listening about a deal which has already been cancelled," Mr Abhisit said, taking a swipe at Mr Chalerm for his comments on the project scrapped earlier this year.

Mr Abhisit said the issue was diplomatically sensitive for countries in the region and the government must take this into consideration.

The final decision on whether to let the US conduct the study must be made by the government and it must take full responsibility if something goes wrong, the opposition leader said.

Air force chief Prachin Jantong said the air force would discuss with Aeronautical Radio of Thailand about the use of U-tapao airport for climate research in preparation for Nasa's plan to conduct the climate study.

ACM Prachin said the air force would look into all aspects concerning the project, when asked to comment on national security concerns if Nasa conducts the climate research as planned in Thailand.

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Discussion 1 : 07/10/2012 at 11:13 PM: The Navy is preparing to deploy new high-altitude surveillance drones to the Asia-Pacific region around the same time. Under current plans, the drones will be based on Guam, but U.S. officials are also searching for Asian partners willing to host the aircraft. May be Sattaheep Airport Rayong ! from iPhone application.
Discussion 2 : 03/10/2012 at 03:20 PM: What on earth has Thailand got to hide? Some dated planes and a broken, but very expensive, airship? Come on folks, get real! If hot air is needed for the airship, I suggest they collect it from parliament, there's plenty there! This is all to do with China. I guess the Thais have to decide whether they are China's lapdog or not. from iPhone application.
Discussion 3 : 03/10/2012 at 12:56 PM: AV and the prachathipat party must specify clearly in writing what details they are looking for. Don't change tune while the music is playing.
Discussion 4 : 03/10/2012 at 11:44 AM: Looks like Abhisit is once again attempting to make political capital at the country's expense. Yes the project was cancelledd for a reason; namely that the Democrat's again played the nationalist card as a way of attacking the government, by raising bogus sovereignty concerns and falsely claimimg China objected to the NASA study.
Discussion 5 : 03/10/2012 at 11:28 AM: "The US is willing to give full cooperation with Thailand on climate research next year, says Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul." "God Bless America" land of the oh, so, patient NASA in dealing with Thailand. :>))
Discussion 6 : 03/10/2012 at 11:16 AM: tomb #7 You are right. People complain YS listens to her brother to much when AV listened to his "puppet masters" to much. When will Thailand get a PM who knows how to think on their own or has the guts to do what he or she truely believes in.
Discussion 7 : 03/10/2012 at 11:05 AM: I can't believe NASA would even reconsider coming back after the last fiasco.
Discussion 8 : 03/10/2012 at 10:50 AM: I agree with you tomb plus what do we think we have to hide a second hand aircraft carrier and an airship that will not fly. The whole government wants to stop being so nieve satellites already provided all that information.
Discussion 9 : 03/10/2012 at 10:41 AM: this present regime run by thai/chinese businessman, would not allow the nasa project,which as we all know would be good for the nation and studying unual weather patterns,and can be used as a warning to countries,china as demonstrated recently have no intention of sharing their own patch with others
Discussion 10 : 03/10/2012 at 10:28 AM: The Democrat Party just two years ago originally signed the deal with NASA. They only changed their minds when the PAD said NASA was attempting to wage 'weather warfare' to colonize Thailand (I'm not joking).
Discussion 11 : 03/10/2012 at 10:22 AM: This is under Govt. jurisdiction. No need to debate in the Parliament, full stop.
Discussion 12 : 03/10/2012 at 10:18 AM: Is Ahbsit still talking about the spying angle? U-tapao is a commercial airport and you can't hide a spy plane without being seen. It is neither in a secluded security tight vicinity and any activities can be easily picked by journalists or anyone interested to expose non intended activities. As for his comment on diplomatic sensibilities, be real. Singapore has a designated harbour for visiting US navy and Phillipines has US army base. Thailand even have war games with US military. His comments have no merits at all.
Discussion 13 : 03/10/2012 at 08:52 AM: The current Foreign Minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, stating that the US is willing to give full cooperation with Thailand next year is nothing new. It didn’t happen this year because the Thai governments priorities were elsewhere and they dilly-dallied and missed the long known deadline. Deadlines aren’t real popular in Thailand; avoiding being Black Listed by the IMF if change aren’t made? Intelligent handling of the decade-long slaughtering of Thais by Thais in the south? Creating an educational system that rises from the dark-ages? A modern trains system that stays on the tracks? A thing known the world over called 3G? You get my point? So even though lip-service is given and in this case with NASA another long lead-time is given, my money is on Thailand missing the deadline because other oh-so-important things will pop up. Any takers?
Discussion 14 : 03/10/2012 at 08:37 AM: All surrounding countries have no objections. NB! as long as the US don't land there! This is the thin edge of the wedge or a Trojan horse in order to open a permanent "multipurpose" US base on Thai soil.
Discussion 15 : 03/10/2012 at 08:35 AM: Disc 11 are you saying kennedy had more morals and i mean all 3 of um rum runners offspring crooks and womanizing liberal every last one of them omg don't get me started on demoRats in america 'cause the current hmfic is way over breaking the law limit...don't get me started
Discussion 16 : 03/10/2012 at 08:24 AM: For a more mature understanding of Asia and how at least one "western" country sees it, go to http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/ This is a bipartisan review of how Australia can work with Asia and the west without becoming paranoid. Worth a look.
Discussion 17 : 03/10/2012 at 08:20 AM: Robins: I guess you are talking about Nixon ... ...
Discussion 18 : 03/10/2012 at 08:10 AM: All surrounding countries have no objections, so it seems the main enemy is within Thailand itself..
Discussion 19 : 03/10/2012 at 07:55 AM: Watch the DP try to spoil this important event again.
Discussion 20 : 03/10/2012 at 07:44 AM: Of course if the PTP had discussed this in parliament in the early part of this year it would all have been resolved months before they decided to have a quick debate a couple of weeks before the project was due to start. Then as now they blame Abhisit and the Democrats instead of taking responsibility and blame themselves.
Discussion 21 : 03/10/2012 at 07:17 AM: I once had great hopes for this educated Oxbridge graduate to become a great politician and PM. All those hopes faded quickly with his stint as PM and the way he was controlled by his puppet masters. It seems he is still astray and doesn't know how to focus on important issues. I mean, get real, a climate study is what it is. If the US wanted to spy, they wouldn't need Thai cooperation. Abhisit is yet again blowing irrelevant issues out of proportion and yes, the nationalistic, yellow card is the again. Crying shame.
Discussion 22 : 03/10/2012 at 07:06 AM: I think now that Dr. Thaksin has been allowed to visit the U.S., all will be approved. Abhisit is a not issue as the PTP has, for more than a year, had the power to grant anything NASA wanted, or anything else for that matter.
Discussion 23 : 03/10/2012 at 07:03 AM: i think it has to do with showing favoritism to America ...with China emerging flexing it's muscles everyone in Asia including Australia see the USA going down the economic toilet and are afraid the USA won't be there for them in 10 to 20 years...whole countries gonna end up just like Detroit ...broke ...anybody know did the Australian government release a White Paper entitled "Australia in the Asian Century." yet?...they see American as becoming marginalized and may roll with China ...just 'cause ...anybody remember that one Simpsons episode where they went to China ...yeah it's kind of like that now ...uh?
Discussion 24 : 03/10/2012 at 07:00 AM: Too bad, no never is final. Sure, they dangle the weather study but the fine print likely still includes the so called relief center in Sattahip which really means once Thailand let's them In, they won't be leaving. This is not the same US Government Thailand hosted in the 1960's, they still had some morals and honor back then.
Discussion 25 : 03/10/2012 at 05:48 AM: Abhisit is playing the card that the Democrat always play, the nationalistic card, does it make sense ? No
Discussion 26 : 03/10/2012 at 05:02 AM: The way they talk around about this just shows that Thailand is dysfunctional when it comes to international relations and technology... a softer variant of North Korea (but North Korea have 3G network). For spying USA use satellites that can read a newspaper on the ground. Even Google Earth capture objects like cars and communication lines.
Discussion 27 : 03/10/2012 at 04:03 AM: I don't know why Abhisit is worried about espionage. Surely Thailand can't be worried the U S is going to spy on Thailand's military might. If the U S wanted to use spies here, they would, and Thailand would not even know it. Thailand is going to blow a great opportunity for advancement in science.

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