Thailand And Japan After The Economic Crisis Economics Essay

The relationship between Thailand and Japan were influenced from the beginning primarily by considerations of trade, and this is still the outstanding feature. However, according to the globalisaton, business relations and trade have expanded and have become increasingly intermingled with political affairs, economic cooperation, and investment.

Objective

To study and analyse the advantage and disadvantage of JTEPA to Thailand.

To evaluate whether the cooperation between Thailand and Japan under the JTEPA framework will provide and create common interests and guide to the more interdependent relations.

Hypothesis

Upon the singing of the JTEPA, it seems to be that Thailand will closely dependent on Japan, which contradicts the Thai government’s expectation on JTEPA to be an effective instrument to develop the unequal practices and relations between the two nations.

Research Questions

What are the character of Thai and Japanese economic relations?

What does the Thai government look forward from JTEPA?

How does JTEPA contribute to the alteration of relations between Thailand and Japan?

Scope

This research primarily focuses on Thailand’s role and its perspectives on international policy and relations with Japan after the great economic crisis in 1997, particularly the case of JTEPA. This study will look at the economic relations between Thailand and Japan and try to answer the question of whether JTEPA would contribute to the more dependent relationship between these two countries.

Conceptual Framework

In this research, Realism and Interdependence theories will be used as an international theory to answer the research questions and also to clarify the Thailand and Japan in term of economic relations.

Realism

Realism, or classical realism, is an approach of the study and practice of international relations. The core of realism is national and state survival. As Han J. Morgenthau who was the leading realist thinker of the twentieth century, was stated that “Politic is a struggle for power over men. Power is its immediate goal and the modes of acquiring, maintaining, and demonstrating in determines the technique of political action” ()

From this theory, the key point of international policy is to protect and defend the interest of the nation in the global politics. This purpose includes high political concerns of guaranteeing state survival. Security matters, as well as the low political purposes in such areas such as the pursuit of wealth and economic growth and power. In making international policy, the governmental decision-makers evaluate each option, and selecting the one that maximizes advantage or minimize cost associated with attaining the purpose sought.

At the present time, Thailand is negotiating FTA with several countries. These FTAs will advantageous for Thailand in term of greater market access in goods and services due to the reduction of trade barrier, increased investment opportunities in oversea markets and decreasing of business costs arising from the dismantling of tariffs and non-tariff barrier. JTEPA is a part of Thai foreign policy toward the Japanese government, especially the economy. The national interest is the significant part in making foreign policy of state. Thailand has achieved to maximize its national interest in any situation it faced. Nevertheless, in negotiation of JTEPA which was the economic cooperation that provided shared interest, the Thai government selected the best option that takes advantage of its national interest without interfering Japanese interests. Although, this agreement made shared interest by enhancing cooperation and reducing the obstacles on trade for Thailand and Japan, it is suspicious whether both countries are so rational in practice.

Interdependence

Nowadays the world has become interdependent in economics, in communications and in human aspirations. Interdependence in the global politics refers to situations characterised by reciprocal effects among countries or among actors in different countries. There are two different perceptions that can be adopted for analysing the costs and benefits of an interdependent relationship. The first perception focuses on the joint gains and joint loses to parties involved. The second is relative gains and distributional issue. It is important to remember that interdependence by no means implies equality. Such uneven relations are quite common in contemporary world politics, especially between developed and less develop countries. Interdependence may be highly asymmetrical; one actor may depend on another can often use the interdependent relationship as a source of power in bargaining over an issue perhaps to affect other issues.

Due to the geographical proximity of Thailand and Japan, it would be beneficial to develop an economic partnership between them. It will bring economic gain and prosperity to both countries. Thailand is expected that JTEPA will strengthen and improve unfair relations between Thailand and Japan. Although Thailand needs equal treatment, it realises that symmetry interdependence is barely possible. When asymmetry is common in economic interdependence, the question of how much is permissible in a relationship, it should properly be interdependence, rather than one way dependence. The politics of economic interdependence involves competition even when large net benefits can be expected from the cooperation.

Methodology

The method to be applied in the course of doing this research was mainly a documentary research. To conduct the research, content and statistic analysis were used. Content and statistic was collected from various sources to get the accurate information. They were used to study the changes of economic relations between Thailand and Japan from JTEPA. The statistic of import, investment and ODA were used as a measure to access the degree of dependency between Thailand and Japan. Although dependence will not be eliminated immediately after signing the agreement, it should continually decrease. This research will study the changing of economics crisis with the relations after signing of the JTEPA.

Thailand and Japan: Post War relations

Thailand and Japan relations have involved several aspects including politics, economy and culture. During the postwar period, the political relations between them were not much mentioned since there were no serious conflicts between them. Moreover, during the Cold War both countries had joined the free world under the leadership of the United States, and supported each other politically.

On the economic aspects, Thailand has imported a large amount of Japanese goods and services. Since Thailand had limited capital resources for national development, it had to import capital goods, especially machinery, transportation equipment, chemical, and other industrial materials from Japan. Difference in context of development level, types of product, and price had generated a large trade deficit between Thailand and Japan in favor of the latter, during the 1960’s. (Dhiravagin, 1983)

The said trade deficit les to the anti-Japanese movement in the 1970’s according to the fact of Thai people were terrified of the Japanese domination of their economy. The anti Japanese attitude did come out not only in Thailand but also in other countries in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia. Therefore, the Fukada Doctrine was declared to develop the economic relations between Japan and Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand. (Sudo, 1988) However, this doctrine was likely to slightly ease the strained situation, the trade deficit between Thailand and Japan was still about US$ 2 billion or 15 percent of the total trade in 1979. (Akrasanee, 1983) Afterward, the Thai government demanded for an equivalent treatment on trade by asking the Japanese government to firstly open their market to the Thai products; secondly, to establish the export-oriented industries in Thailand; and thirdly, to enhance the economic cooperation through more active transfers of technology. (Thai MOFA, 2010) In the White Paper on the restructuring of the Thai-Japanese economic relations, established in June 1985, the Thai government requested a reconsideration of the engineering-service conditions on the projects funded by the Japanese government, the Oversea Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) and Yen Loan, in order that the Thai contractors could have more chance in bidding. (Doner, 1991) However, the result of this negotiation was unsuccessful for the Thai government according to the Japanese government did not guarantee to do anything seriously.

Thailand started to industrialise its economy in 1950’s. By reason of, the shortage of technology and capital, the Thai government necessitated foreign direct investment (FDI) for its Thailand development projects. (Ismail and Yussof, 2003) The Investment Promotion Act 1962 was established for FDI attraction. According to the rapid rise in the wage level in Japan, labor demanding Japanese firm actively undertook FDI in Thailand and other countries in Asian countries. (Wannitikul, 1996) As a result, the Japanese investors have been one of the most important direct investors of Thailand, particularly in the manufacturing area. Importance Japanese industries were textiles, transport equipment, chemical products, electrical appliances and automobiles. Most of the Japanese registered capital was in the form of the joint ventures; only 17 percent of them were in the form of wholly owned Japanese firms.

However, the relationship among staff in their joint ventures did not go effortlessly. A number of Thai partners in the joint ventures complained about the unwillingness of Japanese staff in the interfering technological know-how to the Thai staff. In some companies, the high level technology was realised only among Japanese technicians and engineers. The transfer of management authority was another difficulty found in Thai-Japanese joint venture firms. The Japanese head-quarter provide a lot of Japanese staff to control the managerial positions in affiliates, which really prevented Thai staff from learning the management know-how. As a result, several local partners had not been able to create their own business even after several years of joint investment with Japanese companies. (Tho, 1991)

For Official Development Assistance (ODA), Thailand has considered Japan as one of the most significant benefactors. It had received a big amount of Japanese ODA for its national development projects through several types including grant, loan, and technical cooperation.

From 1961 to 1986, due to the five national economic and social development plans, Thailand’s development strategy had focused on industrialisation programs. Therefore, Thai government had to set up sufficient infrastructure to support these programs. However, according to the budget constraint, it was required that Thai government had a loan of money from foreign sources. The total overseas loan of Thai government during 1961-1986 amounted to 15,529 million dollars, of which 2,851 million dollars or 18.4 percent came from Japan. (Tinakorn and Siroros, 1991) Apart from bilateral loans, Thailand had also received technical assistance and grant supporting from the Japanese government. Japan’s yen loans were concentrated on infrastructure which was the foundation of industrialisation while the grants went to agricultural, educational, scientific, technological, health, and community development.

Overall, it seems that Thailand was heavily dependent on Japan during the post war era. It was clearly seen that Thailand had faced the trade deficit problems with Japan, it still imported Japanese capital and industrial goods according to the requirement for industrial development. At the same time, Japanese partners did not fulfill the Thai anticipation of technological transfer so Thai staffs must rely on Japanese technicians in operating high technology. In addition, Thailand, at the same time, still depended on both grants and loan of Japanese ODA for its domestic development projects.

Thailand-Japan Post-Cold War Relations

In the first half of 1990s, trade between Thailand and Japan continued to increase. With the high rate of economic growth of Thailand, Japan was the largest supplier of Thai imports and one of the top targets of Thai exports. Thailand imported capital and industrial products from Japan. These types of products were used for expanding industrial ability and supplying many export industries whereas Japan imported agricultural and consumer products from Thailand. Changes have taken place since the beginning of 1996 according to the economic recession. Thailand’s imports from Japan had been decreasing. (National Statistical Office, 1992) The trade inequality between Thailand and Japan was becoming slighter. Nevertheless, trade between two countries was increasing again during the recovery of the Thai economy. Regardless of the changing trade relations, trade deficit was still the main problem in the relations between Thailand and Japan.

Taking the investment part into consideration, Thailand was a favorite target of foreign direct investment according to its lower labor costs, reasonable infrastructure and stable society, and when Japan faced another period of yen appreciation that made the raised production costs. Japanese investors started strengthening or expanding their production bases in Thailand trough the production of supporting industries, including basic industries such as steel and petrochemicals. Thailand laid the foundations for its strong investment partnership with Japan. These further strengthened economic ties between Thailand and Japan (Japan External Trade Organisation, 2010) However, Japanese investment declined during 1997 according to the unfavorable environment for foreign investment in Asia in 1997.

The technology transfer continued to be the difficulty of the Thai-Japanese joint ventures companies. On the Thai side, the lacking of technology manpower, particularly engineers and technicians, and the shortage of capability to adopt and utilize technical knowhow and production technology were the difficulties of Japanese technology transfer. (Prayoon, 1990) On the Japanese side, the Japanese style of management, characterized by intra-firm training and promotion, the seniority system, and lifetime employment always results in a slow transfer of managerial posts from Japanese to local staffs. (Japan’s MOFA, 2010)

With regard to Japanese ODA, although the Thai economy smoothly and increasingly grew in the first half of the 1900a, Thailand still obtained technical assistance from Japan of which the total value amounted to 147.46 billion US dollars. In the second half of the 1990s, Thailand faces a great economic crisis in 1997. (Glassman, 2001) Then, in the midst of the economic crisis, Japan’s role as a supporter was very important for Thailand because it had provided more than 12.6 billion US dollars for both the financial and technical aid apart from the 4 billion US dollars in August 1997 under the IMF’s support package. (Japanese MOFA, 2010)

Thailand had also received a large amount of financial and technical support from the Japanese government to raise productivity and competitiveness in Thailand after the economic downturn in 1997. Another Japanese ODA was the New Miyazawa Initiatives which amounted to 1.9 billion US dollars for pushing the Thai economy out of the economic crisis.

All in all, since the post-Cold War, the relations between Thailand and Japan have improved in an optimistic direction. Thailand and Japan have became a good partners in the good and crucial moments; however, Thailand has went on facing the trade deficit with Japan and has still depended on Japan both in term of investment and ODA. They have been significant suppliers for each other. The foreign direct investment is essential for the Thai government to develop its economy and society. Japanese investments have completed some parts of the Thai domestic development plans. Japan was as well as an essential donor when Thailand in the economic recession. Nevertheless, the Thai government has made an attempt to develop the relations from this heavily dependence on Japan to be more interdependence.

Thailand and JTEPA

In the last few decades, the global and regional context has become more complex, with rise of the People Republic of China and India, and the breakdown of the multilateral agreement on trade and investment under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Many countries in the global community, including Thailand and Japan, have been using trade agreement to improve competitiveness. According to compete in the new type of global context and to retain their profits in the global market, both of Thailand and Japan had to create the strong and effectiveness economic links between the two countries, which is befitting that the agreement between them is named the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement or JTEPA.

During 1997-2010, in Thailand, there are six governments governing the country after the economic crisis in 1997. Although, each government had its own economic policy, it is clearly that all of six governments were focused on economic cooperation with other countries, develop mutual interest and avoided conflict among them. Thailand had completed FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with several countries including China, Australia. Thailand is also developing FTA with the essential trading countries; such as U.S.A. and Japan. Being one of Thailand’s primary trading partners, the Japanese government’s attempt to promote with EPA with Thailand will be advantageous to Thailand.

Thailand and Japan were negotiating the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement. This agreement did not concentrate only on trade but also other dimensions, including investment, labor, intellectual property rights and so on. It is expected that JTEPA would further widen and deepen Thai-Japanese relations and jointly beneficial cooperation by foreign closer economic relations, enhancing a more favorable investment climate, and generating greater business opportunities through cooperation, liberalisation and facilitation in trade and investment between the two countries. It is also considered that JTEPA will spot a new dimension for Thailand-Japan strategic partnership. (Thai MOFA, 2010)

In order to complete economic development and industrialisation, Thailand badly requires foreign investment and technology transfer to shore up its flagging economy (The Nations online, 2000) Japan is not only an important trading partner but also a key investor and source of technology for Thailand. The Thai government understands that the comparative disadvantage if it does not build up and develop FTA with Japan. From the Thai government’s point of view, concluding the free trade agreement with Japan may be one instrument to success the Thai economic development according to increasing trade value and foreign investment to Thailand. At the same time, it could also contribute to strengthen Thailand-Japan relations and improve the cooperation between the two countries. Since JTEPA will provide more opportunities for Thai goods and services to entrance into the Japanese market and technology transfer from Japan, these will support Thai industrialisation and develop Thai capability. (Sriratanaban, 2004)

From Japan’s point of view, Japan had realised about its disadvantaged competition in this region as the market share would be smaller after China concluded their free trade agreement with ASEAN countries. (ASEANWEB, 2010) Consequently, Japan was looking to set up and develop economic cooperation with its Asian neighbors by offering the Japan-ASEAN Economic Partnership to ASEAN members individually and multilaterally. (Singh, 2002) Japan also completed the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement in 2002. Thailand was the second nation in Southeast Asia which Japan supposed to conclude the economic agreement after Singapore. It is considered that JTEPA will support with good conditions for Japanese investment in Thailand and provide greater access in Japanese industrial goods, especially automotive and steel industry, to Thai markets.

While Thai government considers that JTEPA will be advantageous to Thailand-Japan relations, especially in the economic dimension, according to reducing obstacles on trade and developing cooperation between them, the researcher does not believe that this agreement will be beneficial to Thailand as it is expected, because of the reason that Thailand is a less developed country with economic status. This research will study whether JTEPA would make Thailand and Japan to be more interdependent or vice versa.

The impact of JTEPA

During the negotiation of the JTEPA, there were several sensitive topics becoming a matter of public concern. According to Pasuk Phongpaichit (2007), there are two points in the negotiation of the JTEPA which indicate what is the impact of this Agreement. In addition, these key points also influence whether the JTEPA is subsequently judged an achievement or disappointment from the Thai perspective:

1. Process

2. Intellectual property

Process

The first topic focused on the process of JTEPA’s negotiation. Bilateral relations in trade and investment agreement are created for share interests. (Anderson, 2008) Accordingly, it means that there is no one party able to obtain all of the profits and there is no one will bear all the loss. General speaking, in international trade agreement, the inequity of power between the two countries can conclude the distribution of the gains. (Phongpaichit, 2007) Up to this point, in the negotiation process, the skill of the individual negotiating parties is very necessary. Due to the process of negotiation is secretive and non-transparent, there always misunderstand between what the negotiators think advantageous and what the public opinion consider beneficial.

Up to this point, in Thailand, the negotiation’s process was condemned for the reason of insufficient transparency. During the negotiation continued from 2004-2006, several significant information was not review visibly available for Thai public opinion. Regarding to Thai law, there was not obligation for this Agreement to be discussed to Thai parliament. It was just discussed and debated in the Legislative Assembly, where Thai legislators were given with little information of the Agreement. Moreover, they had no power to judge and vote anything on the detail of the Agreement. On the other hand, in Japan side, the information on the detail of JTEPA submitted through the Japanese parliament and provided the detail of the Agreement to the public. While there was no public controversy in Japan, there were issues left with suspicion in Thai society. These left suspicions on the Agreement reflects the best interest of Thailand, because there was no mechanism to guarantee those interest were appropriately articulated and taken into account.

Intellectual property

According to Thai protecting intellectual property law, it is hard to get intellectual property right upon a natural organism. Moreover, under the Agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property right (TRIPS), each state are authorised to protect themselves by such a law. (WTO, 2010) However, by a clause in the Article 130 of the JTEPA states that “each party shall ensure that any patent application shall not be rejected solely on the grounds that the subject matter claimed in the application is related to a naturally occurring micro-organism. () When this issue of the Agreement was disclosed to the public, this issues was questioned that why a clause on intellectual property rights appeared to give Japan with more advantages than those available in TRIPS. Up to this point, Phongpaichit also adds in this point that Thailand provided Japan more benefits of intellectual property rights than Japan’s EPA was provided by Malaysia. (2007)

In sum, given the strong and effectiveness economic links with Japan for the development of the Thai economy, it can be said that it is essential for Thai economy to conclude an agreement with Japan, especially in point of the parallel negotiation between the two countries. However, regarding to this Agreement, it seemed to be that Thailand has become more dependence with Japan. Becoming more dependence with Japan, it gives rise to fear that the weaker parties may be disadvantage in the negotiations.

Chapter 2

Literature Review

The literature and research that related to the Thailand and Japan economic relations topics had focused on several aspects, namely trade, investment and assistance. Those articles outlined the gain and loss that Thailand would obtain from the economic links between the two countries, for example, Japanese investment that helped Thai industrialisation, trade deficit problems, technology transfer difficulties, the exploitation of resource etc. Some authors recommended a resolution to the problems. After the economic crisis, the economic between the two countries were deepened in view of the fact that Japan became the key actor to help the Thai economy from the economic regression. On the other hand, the assistance of Japan in the revival period caused the dependent problems between Thailand and Japan to be more obvious. As a result, the Thai government continued to improve the economic policy which increase its national interest and decrease economic problems between two countries.

This research studies the Thai foreign policy towards Japan in the context of JTEPA, with the expectation that this agreement can be an important factor to develop economic links and decrease economic problems between them. Articles which relate to Thailand and Japan economic relations are reviewed as following:

Regarding to Japan was an important trade and investment partner since it resumed economic relations after the World War II, the Thai government focused on attention to improve Thai foreign policy to deal with Japan, particularly economic dimension. Prapat Thepchatree, who wrote “Thai-Japanese Economic Relations”, analysed the Thai-Japanese economic relations after the World War II (2007).For the trade, He outlined that the trade deficit between Thailand and Japan caused by the nature of trade of both countries was on the same scale in which Thailand exported agricultural goods to Japan while the most of Japanese exports to Thailand were capital and industrial goods. In addition, the protectionism was the important non-tariff barrier for Thai product that reasoned the trade deficit problems. For the investment, the author pointed that although Japanese investment played a critical role to develop Thai industrial, Japanese investment caused several problems such as technology transfer. For ODA, he considered that the Japanese ODA did not suit with Thailand’s demand, consequently, the Thai problems were not solved by ODA. Regarding to his study, the economic relations trend between Thailand and Japan would be closer and as a result trade, investment and cooperation would be increased.

Regarding to Theerawongseri (1990), Although Japan was a key factor in the Thai economy, there were the economic problems between the two countries. It was obviously that Thailand’s economic dependence rooted from the structural imbalance of this economic link. The Thai government hoped that the White Paper that proposed to redistribute the Thai-Japanese economic relationship would be proper the inequality problems. (Trinidad, 2007) Under the White Paper, both of the two countries required to restructure its economic structure in the face of the rapidly changing global economic context. Accordingly, Thailand needed to pay more attention to enhance its agro-industrial goods to be value-added commodities. Moreover, Thailand should keep the cooperation with the Japanese public and private firm to create the mutual interest and aspiration for the peace, stability, and well-being of the relations between the two countries. (Theerawongseri, 1990)

For the investment issue, Johzen Takeuchi (1991) outlined the technology transfer between Thailand and Japan in “Technology Tranfer and Japan-Thai Relations”. Takeuchi (1991) analysed that Thailand and Japan were misleading in a technology transfer concept and process. Up to this point, Thailand realised that the technology transfer was “a piece of baggage with a bundle of handbook manuals” (Takeuchi, 1991) while most of Japanese manufacture considered the concept of technology as meaning accumulative and dynamic process. Due to Thailand was an agricultural based country and its economic was condemned as undeveloped (Limskul, 2004), this factor was partly responsible for the lack of inadequate of various skills which was necessitated in the industrial issue. Therefore, Japan did not transfer high technology to Thailand but Thailand did not understand this point. According to the study of Takeuchi (1991), there are four main reasons that Thailand criticised in the issue of Japanese reluctance to transfer the latest technology and the research and development (R&D) sections:

1. The scale of Japanese firms was smaller than the European and American Firms, particularly in terms of employment, Therefore, Japan did not have enough beneficial effects on employment creation.

2. Japanese forms were uninterested to adopting local materials and intermediate goods, and their business activities did not advantage on national industrial sector.

3. Japanese firm did not export their products, which showed that they transferred out of date production systems that lack the potential to gain competitiveness in international market.

4. Japanese firms did not point out the complete handbook manual for operation and management.

Moreover, the author (Takeuchi, 1991) also recommended that it would be useful that both of Thailand and Japan to collect more information as well as do more case studies to enhance the sympathetic in order to reduce the perception gap.

Shiowattana (1990) also studied in the issue of technology transfer between Thailand and Japan but in other context. According to her study, the importance of introducing new of technology was not the key factor leading to successful industrialization, but the capability to learn and improve the acquired technology was much important in order to ensure healthy industrial development. Shiowattana (1990) pointed that the cause of the problem was that Thailand lacked the ability in technology reproduction. Therefore, the Thai government became more aware of the necessity to promote and strengthen the technological capabilities of industry. On Japan’s side, the technology transfer was determined by the policy of Japanese MNCs. In addition, the author outlined that the Japanese joint venture had successful records in technology transfer. As Japan wish for dominating as a self-contained network in the Thai economy, it realised that technological strength was a dynamic force, consequently, pressing for further growth of its economic abilities in Thailand.

Xiaodong (1994) analysed the effect of Japanese Investment in Thailand since 1986 in “What Thailand has gained and lost from Japanese investment”. The author mentioned that Japanese Direct Investment (JDI) after 1986 was a significant event which changed the situation in the Thai economy. Acording to Xioadong’s study, this study paid much attention on the issue of contributions and conflicts in the JDI’s process towards to the Thai economy. For the contribution, JDI stimulated economic growth and industrialisation in Thailand. For example, one fifth of JDI flew into the Thai manufacturing export sector, this stimulated Thai exports and supported the advancement of the export structure of Thailand. (Julian, 2001) On the other hand, JDI also made problems to Thailand such as the over industrialisation and urbanisation, large trade deficit, low quality of technology transfer. (Julian, 2001 and Hussey, 1993) Due to there were many flews of JDI to Thailand, Xiaodong (1994) studied about how Thailand could manage to integrate JDI into the Thai economy more competently and lessen the problem. Accordingly, he pointed out that the Thai government should attract JDI in to Agro-industry and the service sector. Although JDI played as an important role in Thai industry, the Thai government should not expect much on technology transfer and should find other source of capital with the purpose of reduction overdependence on JDI.

In the issue of the development of Thai agricultural products to meet Japanese standards, the article of Cost of compliance on food safety regulation: case of Thailand’s mango exporting to Japan was researched by Phanit Chairungrojbanya. (2006) Chairungrojbanya (2006) studied the cultivation of mango for export, Thai mango’s export market and the food safety measure of both Thailand and Japan. Moreover, the author also researched the cost of compliance on food safety instruction that export to Japan, from the farmer and the export sector. She hold the view that the cost of compliance on Japan food safety regulation divided into three parts, which are the prevention costs, the appraisal, and the failure cost. The food safety measure between the two countries were not much different but Japanese measure was stricter that Thailand, particularly the chemical contamination. Although the compliance on food safety raised the cost of Thai’s mango’s export but the Thai farmers were willing to do it because they could export them at a reasonable price.

In sum, from the literature on Thailand and Japan economic relations that were review aforementioned, the authors concentrated on the gain and lost that Thailand got from the economic relations with Japan. There were no articles that exactly focused on the unequal relations between Thailand and Japan, particularly the dependency. The role of Thai government to develop the unequal economic relations between both countries was not the main objective in those issues. Therefore this research studies the Thai foreign policy toward Japan in detail, the economic dimension. The mainstream of research addresses the economic nature of the two countries that roots Thailand to be more dependent than Japan. This research studies that the regulations in context of JTEPA can provide and create shared interest, decrease the economic problems, develop the Thai economy’s structure and solve the unequal relations after JTEPA goes into force or not.

Chapter 3

JTEPA-Thai-Japanese Economic Relations: The uneven relations?

It can be said that the economic link between Thailand and Japan were uneven in the period of pre-JTEPA because of the economic disparity, particularly in the issue of industrial development. These relations have become strained because Thailand has been excessively dependent on Japan, at the same time, the latter has been less dependent on the former. The Thai government was feared that Japan’s dominant position which might cause problems between the two countries. Therefore, the government had establish policies to reduce dependence, including the import substitution policy in the 1960s, the export oriented policy in the 1970s etc. Moreover, the Thai government had also understand that economic interdependence was a key factor for more interaction and that it may create common interest between Thailand and Japan.

This chapter of the research outlines the economic relations between the two countries in three dimension, including trade, investment, and ODA, from the postwar period. The chapter also shows the causes which create problems between two countries were analysed and the implementation of Thailand’s economic policies from the postwar to the economic crisis in 1997.

I. Trade

Thailand and Japan trade relations were re-established in 1952, and since then Japan was the main source of Thailand imports and an important destination of Thai exports. Although the government of Thailand recognised that Japan was the important trade partner, trade inequality between the two countries was Thailand’s main problems. Most of trade deficit between Thailand and Japan are caused by the structure of economy differences, namely the different level of economic development and industrialisation. Thailand was an agricultural based economy whilst Japanese economy was based on industry, so then the two countries produced and exported the different types of products. Accordingly, the concept of Thailand’s trade with Japan has been an export of raw material, especially in agricultural goodss, and import of manufactured products from Japan. It is clearly that Thailand which has been supplier of raw material partner in a trading relationship that generally has a disadvantage under Japan which has been the industrialised country. Similar to most developing countries which have exported the agricultural goods and imported industrial products, Thailand gained less from its exports than what was required to pay for imports. As a result, Thailand’s trade problem has been increasing overcome. (See table 3.1)

Table 3.1

Thai-Japanese Trade Relations during 1955-1970

Source: Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, 1987.

There were many trade deficits between the two countries caused by Thai economic policies. Firstly, the Thai government established an economic development with highlighting on infrastructure buildup because the government realised that having high quality infrastructure would benefit the development of the Thai economy and the nation. Secondly, in order to decrease importation, the Thai government implemented an import substitution policy in the 1960s. This policy supported local industry to produce the imports. Nevertheless, the performances of these policies were not being able to solve trade deficits as the government had anticipated. Due to the Thailand has been an agricultural based country, it does not have sufficiently capability in industrialisation. Consequently, Thailand must import intermediate inputs, advance technology and machinery from foreign for enhancing its country and industrial. In Thailand’s perspective, Japan was an important supplier of capital goods for becoming an industrialised country. More that 80 percent of imported goods from Japan were machinery, metal and chemical products. Although the import substitution policy was purposed to reduce importation, it made a serious trade problem because of the importation of high volume of intermediate materials and machinery. In addition, the implementation of these policies caused Thailand more dependent on Japanese industrial goods to set up its infrastructure and support Thai industry.

Thailand’s economic policy in the 1970s, which had changed to the export oriented policy, had also raised trade deficit between the two countries. Thailand had started to critically pursue the policy of export promotion, not only of agricultural goods, but also of processed consumption goods. (Viraphol, 1976) The Thai government anticipated that the policy would promote Thai export to Japanese market as well as it would reduce trade inequality between the two countries. After accomplishment of this policy, the export of manufacturing products became in plain sight, such as electronic, electronic components, electronic appliances and textiles. Textile was the major Thai export in the 1970’s. (Japanese Studies Center, 1986) Although Thailand exported more products to Japan, Thailand had to import intermediate products for Thai industrial goods production. As a result, the trade deficit continued the Thai economy’s problem.

It was not only the Thai government that concerned in the issues of trade deficit but Thai public opinion, which are Thai students and researches, were also worried with these issues. They concerned that Thailand would depend on Japanese industrial goods until it became the economically dominate. Thai students solved this problem by having demonstrations. During 1972-1985, there were 5 anti-Japanese movements in Thailand under the leadership of the students. (Jittiwattanapong, 1999) Up to this point, the criticism in opposition to Japanese economic domination did not come only from the students but also intellectuals, bureaucrats, members of Thai parliament expressed in several seminars and publications. (Sudo, 1988) They expected that the anti-Japanese movement would strengthen the Thai government’s bargaining power in negotiating trade matter with Japan. (Sudo, 1988) In response of 5 demonstrations, Japan promised to take importance step to improve the trade imbalance. Firstly, the government of Japan announced the Fukuda Doctrine to alleviate economic relations between Japan and ASEAN members, including Thailand. However, the purpose of this Doctrine was to create prosperity in Southeast Asia, it did not concentrate on the issue of solving trade deficit problems. (Akrasanee and Dhiravegin, 1983) As a result, trade deficit between the two countries still raised every year since the Fukuda Doctrine was launched in 1977. TABLE 3.2

Secondly, the White Paper was published in June 1985 to restructure Thai-Japanese economic relations, namely, Thailand requested Japan to decrease trade imbalance between them by importing more Thai products. Nevertheless, the result of negotiation might not been as fruitful as Thailand hoped since Japan did not formally respond to this request. Trade imbalance between the two countries did not improve and, also, Thailand continued to face a raising trade deficit with Japan. (See figure 3.1)

Table

The trade deficit problem was not caused by Thailand’s economic policy, Japanese economic policy also caused the trade deficit problem serious. The Japanese protectionism was the main reason for trade deficit between the two countries. There were several barriers to prevent foreign products to enter into the Japanese market. Japan obliged high tariff and quota restrictions on primary products which were competitive with Japanese products. Nevertheless, Japan also created quality and quarantine restrictions, these barriers caused it difficult for export Thai products to enter the Japanese market. (Akrasanee and Dhiravegin, 1983) Many Thai businessmen criticized about Japan’s trade practices which made it difficult for Thai traders to export to Japan. Although the quality and price of Thai agricultural goods could compete with local products in the Japanese market, these barriers were the key blockage for Thai products to enter into the Japanese market.

In sum, it seemed that imbalance trade between the two countries rooted from economic structural imbalance. Although the Thai government launched several policies to improve this situation, the trade deficit could not be solved efficiently due to the lack of ability for the Thai side. The implementation of each policy made Thailand to be dependent on Japan in term of import technology and industrial products.

II. Investment

As Thailand has been an agricultural based and developing country with low technology skill, it has been unavoidable to depend on both foreign technology and foreign capital in economic industrialisation. Consequently, the Thai economic policy toward foreign capital inflow was moderately welcomed when Thailand began to industrialise the Thai economy in the 1950s. FDI seemed to be the most essential option which could transfer hardware and software technology alongside with financial capitals to Thailand. Although the Thai government had changed and adopted a policy of attracting foreign investment into the country, the FDI had slowly flown into Thailand’s economy. As a result, Thai government set another Investment Promotion Act in 1962 to promote investment and it established the Board of investment (BOI) to implement this act. (Wannitikul, 1996)

After Thai government launched the industrialised policy in the 1960s, FDI from many countries, such as the United States, some European countries and Japan, flew into the Thai economy. Importantly, Japan was one of the most significant foreign direct investors in the Thai manufacturing industry. In term of both numbers and amount, forty percent of FDI flown to Thailand came from Japan. (Yoshihara, 1978) Although Japanese investment supported the development of Thai industrialisation, it caused Thailand depend on Japanese finance, capital and technology.

The implementation of an import substitution policy in the 1960s provided motivation for investment in import substitution industries. The Thai government supported private investment by offering advantages; such as, the exemption import duties on machinery and intermediate goods, tariff protection, etc. Japan as a major investor in the Thai economy was interested in these benefits, as a result, in invests heavily in production for the national market and little in export-oriented enterprises. It seemed that Japanese investment during this period had contributed to the development of import substitution industries in Thailand. However, the trading behavior of Japanese affiliates that imported material and intermediate products from Japan instead of procuring them locally raised dependency between the two countries and widened the trade deficit between them. As a result, the Thai government changed the policy following decade.

The Thai government announced an export oriented policy in the 1970s to support improvement of the export industry. To implement this policy, Thailand required a big amount of finance and high skill of technology. Consequently, the Thai government offer special tax privileges and extended the income tax exception period for foreign investment. These privileges attracted Japanese investment into Thailand while Japan faced the rapid increase in wage levels and oil crises in the 1970s. Japan recognised that the high price of production would cause the disadvantage to Japanese products in competition with others in the global market. As a result, Japanese labor-intensive industries, especially textiles, and other manufacturing industries such as electronic, electrical appliances, and electronic equipment actively undertook FDI to Thailand. Although Japanese investment in the 1970s supported the development of the Thai export industry, Thailand still had the same problem as the last decade. As Thailand could not support capital goods and technology to helped its production process, Japanese firms or Thailand-Japan joint venture companies had to import these products from Japan.

Although Thailand tried to decrease the dependence upon the investment from Japan, there were factors from the two countries that support Japanese investment in Thailand in the 1980s. On Thailand’s side, the Fifth and Sixth National Economic and Social Development Plans during 1982-1991 concentrated on the issue of economic development, particularly industrial structure development. Regarding to the lack of skill and finance, Thai government necessitated FDI to support its plans. At the same time, the Japanese government got the problem of Yen appreciation and high wages in 1985, as a result, Japanese companies repositioned their production base to aboard for reducing its production cost. As Thailand had good investment environment such as economic and political stability, low wage and rational infrastructure, Thailand has been an attractive FDI target in the Southeast Asia region. Accordingly, many Japanese companies decided to invest in several sectors of Thai industry including chemical, textile, automobile, and electronic products etc. Especially the automobile industry, Thailand has been the biggest automobile production base in the Southeast Asia region. According to the fact that Japan invested in the industry that Thailand had the least skill and could not provide the raw material, the importation of technology and capital from Japan was essential for production process in Japanese companies. Nevertheless, Japanese investment after 1985 to pre-JTEPA was still purposed at the national market and heavily dependent on imported materials and capital goods. That was the reason why trade deficit between the two countries could not be improved and the gap was made wider.

Table 3.4

Due to the fact that Thailand required improving its economy, the most importance expectation that Thailand had from Japanese investment was technology transfer; however, it did not go as smoothly as expected. The problem might come from the tradition of Japanese management style. The Japanese style of management is about the headquarters are reluctance to transfer high technology to its overseas subsidiaries in order to protect their advantages. Accordingly, this was one of the reasons that the Japanese was criticised from the