Praise should have been made in private
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Re: "A grave misstep in the dance with China", Editorial, August 11.
Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn created an unusual diplomatic discomposure when he told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during their press conference in Kuala Lumpur, “If I were a woman, I would fall in love with His Excellency”.
Such a remark, if meant to be a personal compliment, should have been made privately –not publicly. Given the fact that Wang is one of the best-looking and well-dressed foreign-affairs ministry leaders of the world today, it makes it even more confusing and embarrassing for Foreign Minister Tanasak to utter such personal compliments in public.
Words that come out of the mouth of a foreign minister, especially in an official capacity, must be carefully thought out.
Vint Chavala
