FM Sihasak says Chinese airfield in Laos poses no immediate concern

Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has played down concerns over a Chinese airport project in Laos, about 50km from the Thai border, saying it has not raised any immediate concerns for Thailand.

The deputy prime minister also said on Wednesday that he understood the Ban Keun airport project was a joint initiative between China and Laos.

The issue had not been raised during his recent visit to Laos, as it was an internal matter, and there was currently no cause for concern, he said at Government House.

Asked whether the project could have implications for Thailand's security given its proximity to the border, the minister said the construction project might not be what people assumed it to be. However, Thailand would continue to monitor the situation.

If Laos believed the project had any implications for regional security, it would likely inform Thailand, said Mr Sihasak.

Asked whether the United States had informed Thailand of any plans to reopen its consulate in Songkhla, he said there had been no such development.

The China-Lao centre that opened last week near Vientiane to train Laotian air force pilots has sparked speculation among observers that it could be used as an overseas Chinese military base.

Beijing said the facility, launched on Sept 29 at Ban Keun Airport about 50 kilometres north of the Laotian capital, is "not directed against any third party" and "contributes to enhancing practical military cooperation, as well as promoting regional peace and stability".