Armed Forces of Thailand. Royal thai army

The Royal Thai Army, which has a rich and long history, is the main weapon of defense of the Kingdom of Thailand. The armament and strength of the ground forces are formed on the basis of the principle of reasonable sufficiency of the defensive potential.

The Kingdom of Thailand has an advantageous geographical position in Indochina. Numerous military conflicts and troubled neighbors had a significant impact on the formation of the Royal Army. At the moment, Thailand has a fairly large, but archaic, ground forces. Until recently, the United States played the most significant role in arming the Thai army. With their help, a rearmament program was carried out in the 1970-1980s and a program of complete reform and refurbishment in the mid-1990s.

After another military coup, which took place in May 2014, relations with the United States soured. Joint maneuvers were canceled and the military assistance program for Thailand was closed. At the same time, relations with China improved dramatically.

The total strength of the Royal Land Forces is 245 thousand people, including 130 thousand contract soldiers. The army is completed according to a mixed principle: 53% - by contract, 47% - by conscription. The draft age is 20 years. The call occurs by random choice - one of ten candidates is called. The service life of such conscripts is two years. You can sign up for the call voluntarily. In this case, the service lasts 18 months.

Army formations also carry out the functions of maintaining public order, eliminating the consequences of natural disasters and assisting the civilian government in the fight against drugs.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The leadership of the Royal Thai Army is carried out by the Commander and his rather big headquarters, which is located in Bangkok. Geographically, the Royal Thai Army is divided into four army regions (regional armies). The zone of responsibility of the 1st Army (headquarters in Bangkok) includes the capital, western and central provinces. It includes; 1st Kingsguard Division, 2nd Kingsguard Infantry Division, 9th Infantry and 11th Fusiliers, and 2nd Cavalry (Light Armored) Division and 1st Development Division (combines combat and civil engineering functions).

2nd Army (headquarters at Nakhon Ratchasima). The area of ​​responsibility is the northeastern region. It includes the 3rd and 6th rifle divisions, the 3rd cavalry division, and the 2nd development division.

3rd Army (headquarters in Fitsanalok). The area of ​​responsibility is the northern and northwestern regions. Consists of: 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions, 1st Cavalry Division and 3rd Development Division.

4th Army (headquarters in Nakhon Si Thammarat). Area of ​​responsibility - Southern Thailand, includes the 5th Infantry Division (five regiments), the 15th Infantry Division (based at Camp Queen Suryotai, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province) and the 4th Development Division. It is the 4th Army that since January 2014 has been participating in hostilities against Muslim separatists in the south of the country. The 15th division was formed in January 2005 to ensure the security of the region, provide assistance to local residents and infrastructural development. There are plans to create a 16th Infantry Division headquartered in Pattani. It will include battalions and companies of the military police, communications and aviation personnel. Three independent infantry battalions will be stationed at Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Each battalion will include three companies: medical, engineering and psychological warfare.

The special forces of the Thai ground forces are subordinate to the Separate Special Operations Command. They include two infantry divisions of special forces, as well as a rapid deployment force. These include: a special-purpose reserve division, three mechanized divisions, a special artillery battalion, four special air force divisions, three mobile aviation groups and 19 engineer battalions.

COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY OF THAILAND

The Royal Thai Land Forces consist of nine infantry divisions, including Mounted battalions, one tank division, three cavalry (light tank) divisions, eight independent infantry battalions, independent reconnaissance companies, a field artillery division, an air defense artillery division and 19 engineer battalions.

Three aviation companies - units of light helicopters and aircraft - were transferred to the aviation regiment. It is under the direct control of the ground command and is based at the Koketium air base in the Lolburi region, 160 km north of Bangkok.

The various infantry divisions include mechanized and motorized rifle brigades, divisions and tank battalions.

WEAPONS

The military-industrial complex in Thailand is underdeveloped. For this reason, Thailand acquires weapons from different countries. The composition of weapons looks pretty colorful.

The Thai ground forces are armed with 293 main battle tanks, including: 53 M60A1 units, 125 M60AZ, 105 M48A5, 10 Ukrainian T-84 "Oplot". Another 50 Chinese "Type 69" are in storage. Light tanks (194) are represented by M41 Walker Bulldog (24), 104 Scorpions (50 in storage) and 66 Stingrays.

There are 1140 armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and armored vehicles: American M113A1 / AZ and LAV-150 Commando, Chinese Type 85, German UR-425 Condor and South African Reva.

Towed and self-propelled artillery and mortars include 2622 units: 617 towed guns of various calibers and more than 1900 mortars (including self-propelled ones).

Self-propelled 155-mm installations are represented by the American M109A5 (20 units), the French Caesar (six units) and one Israeli ATMOS-2000.

There are more than 520 anti-tank weapons, about 320 air defense guns and air defense systems. Army aviation includes 52 light and training aircraft and about 280 helicopters (seven strike, 13 multi-purpose, 206 transport and 53 training).

At the end of April, the situation on the border between Thailand and Cambodia escalated sharply. According to foreign observers, on April 22, at 6 am local time, a shootout began here between the Cambodian and Thai military using artillery and multiple launch rocket systems.

According to unofficial data, more than 10,000 troops are concentrated on the border from the Cambodian side. This is not the first conflict this year - in February 2011, a four-day border war broke out between these states in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe temple of Preah Vihear. In March, an agreement was reached at the level of the commanders of the military districts of the two states on a ceasefire.

By the way, most Cambodian officers were trained in the USSR and Russia, weapons in the Cambodian army are mainly Russian-made. On the Thai side of the border, also according to unofficial data, about 15 thousand fighters are deployed. Thais use predominantly American weapons, they are trained by military experts from the United States. On both sides, tanks and heavy artillery were drawn to the border. Because of what, the cheese-boron flared up?

What is the reason?

The official cause of the conflict is a disputed area of ​​​​about five square meters (!), adjacent to the Hindu shrine - the temple of Preah Vihear. This is one of the most famous temples in Southeast Asia. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, and was built in the 11th century on the border of Cambodia and Thailand on the 525-meter Mount Mongsak. For many years this temple has been the cause of conflict between neighboring countries.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice in The Hague transferred the temple of Preah Vihear under the jurisdiction of Cambodia. Thailand contends that the 4.6 square meter area next to the temple is part of Thai territory and that the boundary line determined by the court is wrong. In June 2008, the Cambodian authorities were forced to close the temple after about a thousand Thais staged an aggressive demonstration near Preah Vihear demanding its return to Thailand.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia became even more tense after on July 9, 2008, UNESCO announced the inclusion (at the request of Cambodia) of the Temple of Preah Vihear in the List of World Heritage Sites. Bangkok felt that such a move ignored the position of Thailand, which also claims to be part of this iconic complex. The conflict intensified when Thailand and Cambodia sent military units to the area.

First blood

Skirmishes between the Thai and Cambodian military began on February 4, 2011 in the disputed area. The Cambodian authorities claim that the temple of Preah Vihear, located in the line of fire, then received significant damage during the shelling carried out by the Thai military. Nevertheless, two and a half months ago, the UN managed to achieve a truce between the conflicting parties. And now - a new round of escalation of the conflict, which brought the first blood.

In three days of fighting on the Thai side, according to official figures, four soldiers were killed, 27 were injured, and on the Cambodian side, six soldiers were killed, one was missing and 16 were injured. Neither side reports civilian casualties. True, there is information that from the border strip of Thailand several tens of kilometers long, 27 thousand inhabitants were evacuated inland. Probably about the same situation in Cambodia.

Spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense Phai Siphan stated that Thai soldiers were the first to open fire on 22 April. According to him, Thailand used 75 and 105 mm poison gas shells and F-16 fighters, which used cluster weapons, to attack the positions of Cambodian soldiers.

Thai Army official Colonel Sansen Kaukamnet refutes the statement of his Cambodian colleague. According to him, the Thai fighters were indeed alerted, but the territory of Cambodia was not attacked. Also, Colonel Kaukamnet denies the use of chemical weapons by the Thai military.

It should be emphasized that if the “cassettes” and “chemistry” are really used by the Thais, then this brings the conflict to the level of an international crime. Recall that bomb cassettes are considered in the world community as "inhumane" weapons. On December 3, 2008, the Cluster Munitions Treaty was signed by 93 states, banning their use. True, Russia, the United States, China, the producers and owners of the largest arsenals of these munitions, as well as India, Pakistan, Israel, who consider them an effective weapon, refused to accept the treaty. Moreover, the US in 2010 updated some types of cluster munitions.

With regard to chemical weapons, at present 188 of the 195 UN member states are parties to the Convention on their Prohibition. Of the seven remaining states, Myanmar and Israel have not ratified the Convention. Five states did not sign it at all (Angola, North Korea, Egypt, Somalia, and Syria).

Positions of the parties

Cambodia calls the escalation of the conflict "an act of large-scale aggression" by Thailand. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Phnom Penh claims that Bangkok "grossly violated the territorial integrity and airspace of Cambodia." Premier of Cambodia Hun Sen called for consideration of his country's border disputes with Thailand in the UN Security Council. According to the prime minister, it is the UN Security Council that is able to stop the "aggression" of Thailand. He also suggested that the UN create a buffer zone in the disputed territory on the border with Thailand. “It is necessary that the UN create a buffer zone here and bring in troops to ensure that there will be no more fighting here,” Hun Sen said.

The authorities of Thailand treat the situation differently. Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vetchachiva commented on the escalation of the conflict on state television as follows: “Thailand will not cede an inch of its native land to the aggressors from Cambodia.” At the same time, he promised that Thailand would settle border disputes only bilaterally, without the involvement of foreign mediators. Practice shows that such a position does not make it possible to advance negotiations.

Recall that after the February conflict, this year's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia, was recommended by the UN Security Council as a mediator in negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia. But the Thai military has been refusing for almost three months to allow observer officers of the Indonesian armed forces into their territory. Judging by the behavior of Thailand, its leadership is not at all aimed at resolving the conflict.

American ears

According to the first vice-president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, doctor of military sciences Konstantin Sivkov, American ears clearly stick out of the porridge brewed on the Indochinese Peninsula:

“When blood is shed and millions of dollars are spent allegedly because of five square meters of “disputed territories”, we have the right to doubt the official version of the causes of the conflict. On the other hand, this hearth fits well into the American concept of creating an arc of instability around China. Of course, a full-fledged war cannot be provoked here, but it is beneficial for the Americans to fan the smoldering embers.

- Why do you think that war is impossible here?

The fact is that Cambodia has signed an allied treaty with Vietnam, and the Vietnamese army is much superior to the Thai one. The media recently quoted Cambodian Army Colonel Srey Chata as saying, “ If the Thais decide to really attack Cambodia, then in a week Vietnamese troops will be in the center of Bangkok". Quite logical.

“But there is American power behind Thailand, right?”

Now the Americans, who are tied up in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in fact in Libya, are not in the mood to intervene in this conflict with military force. But at the level of special services, they will slowly muddy the waters here, petty mischief to the Chinese. However, this coincides with the interests of Thai politicians.

- Why do you think so?

When there is famine in the country, you need to look for an external enemy. Amid economic turmoil and rising food prices, the ruling Democratic Party hopes to rally the Thai people in the face of an external threat to win elections.

The balance of power in the region

Thai Armed Forces

During World War II, Thailand was an ally of Japan, but after its defeat, it fell into the zone of influence of the United States. With the help of the Americans, a program of rearmament of the armed forces was carried out, and since the mid-90s, a program of complete reform and re-equipment. The United States plays a major role in arming the Thai army: supplying weapons, equipping enterprises for the production of weapons and ammunition, replacing old weapons, and training specialists.

The number of the Thai army is about 200 thousand people. The armament of the land army includes M16 rifles, light anti-tank weapons of the M72 system, M47Dragon anti-tank missile launchers, and RPG-2/7 anti-tank missiles.

tank technology:
- medium tanks M-60A3 and M-48A5 in a total of 283 units;
- heavy tanks 69-II (a copy of the Soviet T-55) - over 50 units;
- Stingray light tanks - 106 units, FV101Scorpion light tanks - 154 units, M41 Bulldog light tanks - 200 units.
Mobile armored vehicles: YW531 - 450 units, APC "Condor" - 18 units, LAV150 - 138 units, M113 - 340 units.

Artillery: T85-130mm - 60 units, T83-122mm - 40 units, M-109A5-155mm - 20 units, GHN-45A5-155mm - 42 units, M-71Soltam-155mm - 32 units, M198-155mm - 62 units, M114 -155mm - 56 units, T59-1-130mm - 15 units, GiatLG1-105mm - 24 units, M101-105mm - 285 units, M102-105mm - 12 units, M618A2-105mm - 32 units, T59-57mm anti-aircraft gun - 24 units , BoforsL40-40mm anti-aircraft - 48 units, T74 65 / 37mm - 122 units, M163-20mm - 24 units, M167-20mm - 24 units.

Thai Navy include 2 types: Navy and Marine units. The main base and command are stationed in Sattahip (near the resort of Pattaya), where the central command of the US Pacific Naval Base was previously located. In service with the naval forces of Thailand are: 1 strategic aircraft carrier ("Chakri Dynasty"), 10 naval frigates (including 2 large class FFG461 and FFG462), 7 corvettes, 6 missile cruisers, 9 amphibious ships, 77 patrol ships, 15 river patrol boats, 7 mine ships .
As part of naval aviation: 44 fighters, 8 air artillery helicopters.

The Thai Air Force consists of 315 aircraft., including such models of combat vehicles as L-39 (34 units), AlphaJet (25 units), AU-23 (21 units), F-16 (61 units), F-5 (46 units), as well as aircraft and transport aviation helicopters C-130 (12 units), BT-67 (9 units), UH-1 Iroquois helicopter (20 units), G222 (6 units), GAF N22B Nomad patrol aircraft (19 units), LearJet reconnaissance aircraft 35A (2 units) and IAI201 (3 units).

Armed Forces of Cambodia

Regular aircraft more than 140,000 people, including the armed formations of the provinces - 45 thousand people. Paramilitary formations (police) - 67,000 people. Mob. resources of 2.5 million people, including 1.4 million fully fit for military service.

Armament:
- 150 tanks (T-55, T-59, PT-76),
- 210 armored personnel carriers,
- 400 towed artillery pieces,
- up to 50 MLRS, mortars of calibers 82, 120 and 160 mm, 37 mm and 57 mm ZU, MANPADS Strela-2.

air force: 2000 people Aircraft and helicopter fleet: 19 MiG-21, 5 L-39, An-26, 2 Y-12, BN-2, Cessna 401, Cessna 421, 14 Mi-8 and Mi-17, AS-350 , AS-365.
Navy: about 3000 people (including 1500 in the marines). Ship composition: 2 PKA pr.205P, 2 river PKA.

Armed Forces of Vietnam

Vietnam People's Army - 470.3 thousand people- (ground forces - 315 thousand people: field - 296 thousand, local - 19 thousand), air force - air defense forces (46.5 thousand people), naval forces (33.8 thousand people ), including maritime police - 1.7 thousand people, border troops(38.5 thousand people)) and troops of the Ministry of Public Security (34 thousand people), the reserve composition includes forces militia and self-defense (1.62 million people). Mobilization resources - 23.4 million people, incl. 14.7 million fully fit for military service.

Ground troops. tanks:
- 1315 main battle tanks (45 T-34, 850 T-54/55, 70 T62, 350 T59);
- about 620 light tanks (300 PT-76, 320 T-62/63).
armored personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicle: 1380 armored personnel carriers (including 200 M113 are planned to be upgraded), 300 infantry fighting vehicles, 100 BRDM-1-2;

Howitzers and guns: 2,300 towed guns of caliber 76, 85, 10, 122 and 152 mm, 30 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers; mortars: a significant number of mortars of caliber 60, 81, 82, 120 and 160 mm;
MLRS: about 710 launchers and MLRS combat vehicles, including 350 BM-21 Grad; anti-tank weapons: RPG-7, ATGM 2K11 "Baby";
military air defense systems: about 12,000 anti-aircraft artillery installations of caliber 23, 37, 57 and 85 mm, air defense systems 9K32 "Strela-2", 9K31 "Strela-1".

Naval Forces. ship composition:
midget submarine "Yugo" - 2 units;
frigate "Barnegat" - 1 unit;
small anti-submarine ship project 159A - 5 units;
small rocket ship (2 project 12418, 4 project 1241) - 6 units;
missile boat (8 project 205, 2 project 1041.2) - 10 units;
torpedo boat (3 pr. 206M) - 6 units;
patrol boat (including 4 Stallcraft, up to 10 pr. 1400M, 2 pr. 206M, 4 pr. 201M) - 20 units;
tank landing ship (LST-1, 2 LST-512) - 3 units;
landing craft - 23 units;
mine-sweeping ship (2 project 266, 4 project 1265) - 6 units;
minesweeper (2 project 1258, 5 project 361T) - 7 units;
hydrographic vessel project 870 - 1 unit;
transport - 17 units;
tanker - 2 units;
floating crane - 2 units;
tug - 10 units.

Air Force. Aircraft and helicopter fleet:
MiG-21BIS - 150 units;
Su-22 - 53 units;
Su-27 - 12 units;
SU-Z0MKK - 4 units;
Be-12 - 4 units;
An-2 - 12 units;
An-26 - 12 units;
K-18 - 10 units;
Yak-40 - 4 units;
L-39 "Albatross" - 18 units;
Mi-24 - 26 units;
Ka25 - 3 units;
Ka-28 - 10 units;
Mi-6 - 4 units;
Mi-8 and Mi-17 - 30 units;
PZL W-3 "Falcon" - 4 units.

/S. Turchenko, based on materials svpressa.ru and topwar.ru /

In exotic Thailand, even monks and transgenders join the army. A photo report from a recruiting station in Bangkok illustrates the recruitment process and clarifies some of its features

A Buddhist monk and a 24-year-old transgender named Nopparat wait in line to be interviewed by an officer at a Bangkok recruiting office. Both conscripts and contract soldiers (65%) serve in the Thai army. You can go to military service as a volunteer and serve for six months. If the summons comes, the young man is waiting for the military lottery.

Queuing for the weights. There are no problems with human reserves in the Kingdom, so the draft board can weed out more than half of the recruits. During the examination, not only the state of health is taken into account, but also the anatomy. For service, a man must be taller than 160 cm, weigh at least 50 kg, and his chest circumference must be at least 76 cm. Some hill tribes in Thailand are so small that military service is not available to them.

The monk and other young people are waiting for the lottery to start. All fit for service draw lots - a red or black card. If the recruit draws a red one, he is called up for service, if a black one, he goes home. The monetary allowance of a soldier at first is 7,000 baht, but in the course of service this amount gradually increases. In Thailand, being a military man is prestigious.

The young man rejoices at his luck, because he pulled out a red card! It is not yet known where he will serve: in the safe inland provinces or in the troubled extreme south of the country. AT last years Islamic separatists have stepped up there, carrying out terrorist attacks and attacks on Thai police and military.

Prayer before the lottery. Volunteers receive a privilege not only in terms of service, but also in the choice of troops. They may serve in the Royal Army, Navy or Air Force. Volunteer conscripts with a high school diploma or military education serve a year instead of two, and volunteer conscripts with an associate's degree serve half a year.

The monk is not happy with the result of the lottery. The atmosphere here is like gambling. Friends, relatives, even monks come to cheer for the guys. Only 20% of candidates are called up to serve in the Thai army.

The internal "kitchen" of the lottery. Officers prepare cards for drawing.

Future warrior - 21-year-old Sitiphan with his son. The drawing process is so exciting that friends and relatives of recruits come to watch it.

In a free manner. Once in a lifetime, every Thai can come to the recruiting station and say that he is not ready to serve in the army now. No certificates are needed - the person's name is simply transferred to the list of next year's recruits. Students and those who have elderly parents in care also receive a deferment.

To serve or not to serve? All conscripts are divided into three types. Type 1 - a real man, type 2 - those who have had breast augmentation surgery with implants, type 3 - those who have completely changed their sex. Type 2 may in some cases be called up for military service, but type 3 is exempt from it.

Preparing to meet with an officer. From 1954 to 2013, all transgender people in Thailand were declared unfit for military service due to "mental disorder". But this year the restriction has been lifted and in some cases trans people can be drafted into the army. The changes also affected the monks - now they also fall under the call.

In order. Regardless of type and rank, all recruits receive a personal number and undergo a medical examination and interview with officers.

Big girl". Recruits of types 2 and 3 do not receive any allowances for examination and interview. The officers treat them like men (according to their passports) and prefer not to notice the unusual appearance of the recruits.

Finally in the army! The winners of the military lottery rejoice in their luck. Now they will become soldiers of the Kingdom and will receive a solid salary.

On December 8, 1941, seventy-five years ago, the Thai operation of the Imperial Japanese Army began. It became an integral part of Japan's plan to occupy states and European colonies in Southeast Asia. The Japanese leadership was particularly interested in Thailand, since the country was distinguished by a strategically important position - through Thailand it was possible to invade the British colonies of Burma and Malaya. For the success of the invasion, the Japanese needed control over the railways, airfields and ports of Thailand.

Before the start of the war, Thailand was a fairly powerful state by Asian standards. Let's start with the fact that it was the only country in Indochina that escaped the colonial fate. Thailand (formerly Siam) was never colonized by any of the European powers, unlike its neighbors - Burma and Malaya, which were under British rule, and Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, colonized by the French. The buffer position of Thailand between the colonial possessions of France and Great Britain played a significant role in maintaining its political independence. On the other hand, at the end of the 19th century, the Siamese kings began to make serious efforts for the military and economic modernization of the country. So, King Chulalongkorn or Rama V (1853-1910), who ruled in 1868-1910, sought to establish friendly relations with Russian Empire, in which he saw a patron in the struggle to maintain independence. The King of Siam even visited Russia, met with Emperor Nicholas II. One of the sons of Rama V, Field Marshal Chakrabon Puwanat (1883-1920), not only received a military education in Russia, but also married a Russian citizen, Ekaterina Desnitskaya.

By the 1940s Thailand managed to create a very combat-ready armed forces. Their real potential was tested in the Franco-Thai War of 1940-1941. At this time, the post of Prime Minister of Thailand was held by Major General Plek Phibunsongram (1897-1964), who was appointed to this position in 1938. He was a rather extraordinary person, combining the qualities of a clever politician and a good military leader. Back in 1914, Plec (pictured) graduated from the Chulachomklao Military Academy with the rank of second lieutenant and was assigned to the artillery. During the First World War, he served as a foreign trainee in France - also in artillery units, and then graduated from the military academy in Poitiers and Fontainebleau. The career advancement of the young officer was facilitated by the revolution that took place in Siam in 1932 and led to the restriction of royal power. After the revolution, Plek Pibunsonggram was appointed deputy commander of the royal army's artillery with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and then promoted to colonel and appointed deputy commander of the army. In 1934 he took over as Minister of Defense. By the way, it was Pibunsongram who initiated the renaming of Siam to Thailand, which followed in 1939.

After becoming prime minister, Pibunsonggram sought to turn Thailand into a powerful state - the hegemon of Indochina. Under the influence of European right-wing radical ideologies, the prime minister advocated the unification of all Thai-speaking peoples and demanded that the territories of Burma and Cambodia be returned to Thailand, which were once under the control of the Siamese kings. After Japanese troops invaded French Indochina in September 1940, which did not meet with serious resistance from French troops, Pibunsonggram decided that Thailand's "finest hour" had struck and the country would be able to capture the territories that were part of French Indochina.

Anti-French rally in Bangkok in 1941

By this time, the armed forces of Thailand greatly outnumbered the French colonial troops stationed in Indochina. If the number of French troops was approximately 50 thousand soldiers and officers, then 60 thousand people served in the Thai army. In addition, the Thai army had superiority in armament, since the French colonial troops had practically no armored vehicles. The French had only 20 obsolete Renault FT-17 tanks at their disposal, while the Thai army had 60 Carden-Loyd Mk VI tankettes and 30 Vickers Mk E light tanks. The Thai armed forces also had significant superiority in the air. Against the French troops, the command of the air force of Thailand planned to use 109 bombers and 25 fighters. As a result of the actions of the Thai Air Force, which undertook the bombing of Vientiane, Phnom Penh and a number of other cities, the infrastructure of French Indochina suffered significant damage. On the ground, Thai troops were also rapidly pushing the French. Soon Thailand occupied almost all of Laos and a significant part of Cambodia.

In the end, Japan intervened, which was sort of an ally of the Vichy French government. With Japanese mediation, a peace agreement was concluded in Tokyo. In accordance with it, Thailand received impressive territories - the Cambodian provinces of Battambang and Pailin, Koh Kong, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihea, as well as the Lao provinces of Nakhontyapmasak, Sainyabuli and part of the province of Luang Prabang.

Since the Thai army was able to easily defeat the French colonial troops stationed in Laos and Cambodia, the Japanese command, interested in establishing control over the territory of Thailand, for a long time did not dare to attack the country. Since the Japanese considered the territory of Thailand solely as a "springboard" to the capture of the British colonies of Burma and Malaya, it was important for the Japanese command that the parts of the imperial army transferred to Thailand did not suffer serious losses in battles with the Thai army. If the Thai armed forces offered serious resistance to the Japanese troops, then the latter could get stuck in Thailand for a long time, which would lead to negative consequences for Tokyo's plans to invade Burma and Malaya.

For the Japanese government, the best solution would be to establish allied relations with Thailand, so that Bangkok would simply agree to let Japanese troops through its territory and allow the use of military infrastructure facilities. Certain circumstances made it possible to hope for such an outcome of events, and above all, the policy of General Pibunsongram, who was ideologically close to the Axis countries and himself had a negative attitude towards the British colonial presence in Indochina and Malaya. In October 1940, Pibunsongram even promised the Japanese command to support the Japanese troops in the battle for Malaya. However, as a pragmatic person, he simultaneously negotiated with the governments of Great Britain and the United States of America, since he understood that Japan could not limit itself to passing through the territory of Thailand, but simply occupy the country. The British leadership promised Pibunsonggram support in the event of a Japanese invasion.

Uncertainty in relations with Thailand eventually led the Japanese command to decide to invade the country. Tokyo was worried that sooner or later Bangkok would make an alliance with Great Britain and then the situation in Indochina would become much less profitable for the Japanese. General Terauchi Hisaichi (1879-1946, pictured), commander of the Southern Army Group of the Imperial Japanese Army, ordered the invasion of Japanese troops into Thailand. On December 8, 1941, units of the Imperial Guards Division, which was part of the 15th Army, invaded Thailand in the province of Battambang. Around the same time, on the morning of December 8, units of the 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Guards Regiment landed in Samut Prakan, tasked with securing the capture of Bangkok. However, the Japanese did not clash with the Thai units.

Meanwhile, units of the 1st Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Army invaded Chumphon. Unlike other Japanese units, they faced serious opposition from the Thai troops stationed in the area. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, on the night of December 7-8, the 3rd Battalion of the 143rd Infantry Regiment and the 18th Airborne Regiment of the Imperial Army landed. They were opposed by the headquarters of the 6th division of the royal army of Thailand and the 30th infantry battalion of the royal army. The Thai troops immediately engaged the Japanese paratroopers. Parts of the royal army continued fighting with the Japanese forces until noon on December 8 and ceased fire only after an order was received from Prime Minister Phibunseonggram. Japanese paratroopers also met fierce resistance during the landing in Pattani. Here, soldiers of the 42nd infantry battalion of the royal army, commanded by Khun Inkhayutboriharn, who died in this battle, entered the battle with the Japanese. Another Japanese unit - the 2nd Battalion of the 143rd Regiment - landed at Prachuapkirikhan, where the airfield and base of the 5th Squadron of the Royal Thai Air Force was located. Here the Japanese managed to defeat the local garrison relatively quickly and establish control over the city. However, the Japanese failed to capture the airfield, the resistance of the Thai pilots and airfield maintenance units turned out to be so fierce. The defenders of the airfield fought until they received an order from the prime minister for a ceasefire.

In Khaokhorkhong, the Thai 41st Infantry Battalion and the 13th Artillery Battalion took up positions on the roads to Malaya, preparing to repel an attack by Japanese paratroopers. These units then retreated to Hat Yai, where the next clash between Thai and Japanese troops took place. Fighting continued, as in other parts of the country, until noon, when a ceasefire was ordered. The Prime Minister of the country, Pibunsongram, made a rather favorable decision for Thailand not to get involved in a war with Japan, which promised to be extremely bloody and difficult for the country, but entered into negotiations with the Japanese command and soon concluded a truce. Japanese troops were able to use Thai territory to attack Malaya.

On December 21, 1941, Prime Minister Phibunseonggram concluded an alliance treaty with Japan. Thus, Thailand became the only sovereign state in Southeast Asia to become an ally of Japan in World War II. Following the signing of the union treaty, an even more radical step followed - on January 25, 1942, the Thai government declared war on Great Britain and the United States of America. However, this decision by Prime Minister Pibunsonggram caused an extremely negative reaction from a significant part of the Thai political elite. Many senior officials were convinced that declaring war on the United Kingdom and the United States was contrary to Thailand's national interests. They were convinced that the Japanese would sooner or later be defeated by the allies, and then Thailand would have to answer for the actions of its prime minister. In protest against the declaration of war, Thai Foreign Minister Pridi Panomiong (1900-1983) resigned. Panomiong (pictured), who was considered a liberal and pro-Western politician, was very dissatisfied with Pibunsonggram's irresponsible step and even decided to resign from such a serious government post. Seni Pramot, the Thai ambassador to the United States, also sharply criticized the declaration of war, even refusing to recognize the declaration of war as valid and did not hand it over to representatives of the American diplomatic department.

Instead of Panomiong, who left the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Phibunsonggram appointed Wichit Wichitwathakan as Foreign Minister, who held in 1938-1942. the post of Minister of Culture and known as the ideologist of the right-wing radical forces in Thailand. Pibunsongram himself and his associates were convinced that the declaration of war was the right step, as it allowed the Thai army to take part in the hostilities on the side of Japan and created the prerequisites for the capture of a number of new territories by Thailand. In 1943, Japan transferred to Thailand two principalities of the Shan region in North-East Burma, which was of great importance for Pibunsonggram, since the Shans also belonged to the Thai peoples. In addition to the Shan principalities, the principalities in the north of Malaya were also transferred to Thailand, which, according to Pibunsongram, had also previously entered the orbit of influence of the Siamese state.

However, for the Thai people, the consequences of Pibunsonggram's policy were rather negative. The Japanese occupation led to the death of thousands of Thais, who were mobilized into labor armies to build military infrastructure. The economic situation has deteriorated sharply. Eventually, the Free Thailand movement was formed, led by opposition politicians Seni Pramot and Pridi Panomiong. Finally, in July 1944, Parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Phibunsonggram. He was forced to resign as prime minister of the country, retaining, however, the post of commander in chief of the armed forces. The new head of government was the much more moderate politician Kuang Apaivong (1902-1968), an officer of Khmer origin who had previously served in the king's personal bodyguard. His government began to establish contacts with the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, trying to get out of the war with minimal losses. In connection with the defeat of Japan, the Thai government turned to the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition with a request for peace. On January 1, 1946, a peace treaty was signed, according to which the country was deprived of all acquired in 1941-1943. lands and paid an indemnity to Great Britain. They tried to try General Pibunsonggram as a war criminal, but the court acquitted him. In 1948, he again returned to power in the country, this time successfully reorienting himself to cooperation with the United States - under anti-communist slogans.

Thailand or the Kingdom of Thailand is a state located in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula and in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula (Southeast Asia). In the southwest, the country is washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean), in the southeast - by the Gulf of Thailand (South China Sea).

Thailand owns numerous islands, among which the largest are Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Phuket and Prathong. The north of the country is covered by mountain ranges. The highest point in Thailand is Mount Doi Ithanon (2576m). 20% of the country's territory is forests. The largest rivers are the Menam Chao Phraya, the Mekong with the Mun tributary. The Kingdom of Thailand is located on the axis of influence of China and India.

Thailand borders:

• -in the east with Cambodia and Laos.
• -to the west with Myanmar
• -in the south with Malaysia

Square

It occupies an area of ​​514 thousand km, of which the sea zone is 2.23 thousand km. The maximum length of the territory from west to east is 780 km, from north to south - 1650 km. Most borders were established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by treaties imposed on Thailand and its neighbors by Britain and France. In terms of area, Thailand is the 50th country in the world and slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain.

Thailand is an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and the WTO. Japan, the USA and China have recently become the largest trading partners.

Some ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), from EU member countries - Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands. In the near future, Thailand wants to establish trade relations with South Korea, Russia and many more.

Thailand's conflicts with other states

Conflict situations with some of Thailand's neighbors. For example, since the late 1980s There was a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the territorial affiliation on which the Temple of Preah Viherai is located. In 2011, the conflict even reached its climax in the sense that armed clashes began on the border. Similar conflicts were still in 2008-09. As a result, the international court decided to define this territory as Cambodia, which is why there are still disagreements.

Also, the Thailand-Laos dispute over the border along the river is known. Mekong. After armed clashes at the border in the late 1980s, an agreement was reached to establish a joint border commission. The demarcation line continues, disagreements on some islands on the river have not been overcome. Mekong.

There were also disputes between Thailand and Malaysia. Regarding the delimitation of the border in the area of ​​the river. Kolok and about the delimitation of the continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand. Both disputes are still considered officially unresolved.

Thailand has winding borders, it is classified as an irregularly shaped state, therefore, because of this, there may be difficulties in protecting the state, especially since Thailand is a lowland in many respects, which is washed by the seas, which again undermines security on the one hand. + border conflicts. But on the other side of the sea, these are ports, trade routes, so this is favorable, + Thailand is not an isolated state and has a sufficient number of neighbors and external relations with the world.

ethnic borders

Thailand is one of the most racially homogeneous South-East countries Asia. 75% of the population are Thais, about a third are Lao, 14% are Chinese (there are enough of them everywhere). Also, there are Malays in the south. The Malays constituted the third largest ethnic group.

The Malays are mostly Muslim, which makes them isolated from other peoples, and historical disputes and proximity to the border with Malaysia, which have been argued for many centuries, sometimes cause serious conflicts and performances by the Malays. The Malays live in the south and often news of international conflict comes from there.

Fruits of Thailand (photo with names)

Today we decided to show in the photo and tell you what fruits look like in Thailand and give a description of them. Thailand is famous for its abundance of very tasty fruits, and if you are in this country, it will be useful for you to know about the most delicious. See the fruits of Thailand (photo with names in Thai) and description. We also recommend: Significant holidays in Thailand Coral reef off Koh Phangan Annual multiple […]