For his part, Thaksin has sought to invest in Myanmar’s Dawei Port and partnered with senior military officials in economic projects. Chian Kulachet Sangiamponsa, the son of Maris Sangiampongsa, is a director of the Hlaing Sang Company, which is linked to the Myanmar military (the latter was Thaksin’s former attorney and is now the kingdom’s foreign minister). General Songwit Noonpackdee, the commander of Thailand’s Armed Forces headquarters, has sat on the board of directors of Bangchak, a Thai energy company which cooperates with the Myanmar military.