Diplomatic coup for Thai junta, as Trump welcomes military leader Prayuth at White House
2017-10-03 14:18:32 source：South China Morning Post
October 3, 2017
US President Donald Trump welcomed Thailand’s junta leader to the White House on Monday – a rare instance of a military ruler being feted in Washington before even a nominal return to civilian rule.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was greeted at the South Portico by Trump and first lady Melania Trump as he arrived for talks and a working lunch. The visit comes three years after Prayuth seized power in a military coup, and days after the elected leader whose government he ousted was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.
Human rights groups are outraged, but it gives a shot in the arm to US relations with its oldest ally in Asia, which has moved more into China’s orbit since Washington scaled back ties because of the military takeover.
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