The bamboo breaks: Thailand’s diplomatic challenge

[webfact]

 

Jittipat Poonkham

 

Thai foreign policy is frequently characterised by the metaphor of bamboo bending with the wind. The simultaneous strength and flexibility of bamboo suggests a foreign policy that is both adaptable and pragmatic in its aim of securing national survival and independence. Within this discourse, Thailand blatantly plays one great power off against the others.

 

While this could be seen as simply expedient, Arne Kislenko sees Thailand’s diplomacy as based on ‘a long-cherished, philosophical approach to international relations’, which is ‘always solidly rooted’ but ‘flexible enough to bend whichever way it had to in order to survive’.

 

But amid intensified great-power competition, I argue this old narrative of bamboo diplomacy is becoming obsolete. Thailand needs to find a new and sustainable narrative to make sense of the world and position itself within a changing international society. The means to do this is what I term a ‘leading from the middle’ strategy.

 

Full story: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-bamboo-breaks-thailands-diplomatic-challenge/

 

-- © Copyright THE STRATEGIST 2021-09-11

 

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[Tropicalevo]

The thought that Thailand actually has a foreign policy surprises me.

[AnnaBanana]

Diplomatic advice from Australia?

   The Land of Poodles.

[zzaa09]

13 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

The thought that Thailand actually has a foreign policy surprises me.

Certainly don't have a domestic policy.

Edited September 11, 2021 by zzaa09

[mahtin]

From you, I get opinions
From you, I get the story

 

What's the story here?

[Will B Good]

I thought Thai foreign policy was dictated by the CCP?

 

What have Thais got to do with it?

[NanaSomchai]

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

I thought Thai foreign policy was dictated by the CCP?

 

What have Thais got to do with it?

Welcome to Chailand!

[John Drake]

The US has written off Thailand in favor of Vietnam.  It doesn't matter what Thailand wants or needs.

[topt]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

The US has written off Thailand in favor of Vietnam.  It doesn't matter what Thailand wants or needs.

Perhaps they don't want or need the USA - did you read all of the linked article as it wasn't really about choosing a "side"........

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, topt said:

Perhaps they don't want or need the USA - did you read all of the linked article as it wasn't really about choosing a "side"........

Again, read what I wrote: "It doesn't matter what Thailand wants or need." If they don't want the US, then that is okay, because they are barely factored into US policy for SE Asia, which is in the article, as is this: "In the past decade or so, Thailand has not simply sought to avoid choosing sides; it has increasingly and actively leaned towards Beijing on key issues." The article was all about Thailand choosing a side, China.

[jacko45k]

5 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The thought that Thailand actually has a foreign policy surprises me.

Probably similar to De Gaulle's.

[topt]

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

The article was all about Thailand choosing a side, China.

Our comprehension differs but no issue.

 

For those that didn't read all the linked article here is the final paragraph -

Quote

Thailand should pursue a leading-from-the-middle strategy. This requires maintaining good relations with all the great powers, while binding them within a rule- or norm-based order. It also requires Thailand to exercise leadership in its own interests by initiating regionwide politico-diplomatic innovations and advocacy. By this, Thailand can seek to reduce strategic tension and uncertainty amid the great-power rivalry and preserve its own autonomy.

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, mahtin said:

From you, I get opinions
From you, I get the story

 

What's the story here?

Thailand is like a yacht in the ocean, forever changing tack looking for a favourable wind, as it doesn't posses it's own engine.

[mikebike]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand is like a yacht in the ocean, forever changing tack looking for a favourable wind, as it doesn't posses it's own engine.

Yeah! Great analogy!!

 

We all KNOW sailing ships pre-steam didn't get anywhere, didn't conduct global trade, global warfare, or explore every corner of the earth without engines.

 

They basically just drifted around out of control. 

 

Remind me again why they built so many... ????????????????

[hotchilli]

Just now, mikebike said:

Yeah! Great analogy!!

 

We all KNOW sailing ships pre-steam didn't get anywhere, didn't conduct global trade, global warfare, or explore every corner of the earth without engines.

 

They basically just drifted around out of control. 

 

Remind me again why they built so many... ????????????????

No cars.????

[eddie61]

Well, I don’t think it will be based on principles, for general lack of interest 

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, John Drake said:

The US has written off Thailand in favor of Vietnam.  It doesn't matter what Thailand wants or needs.

The twisted irony of old false friendship. 

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, zzaa09 said:

The twisted irony of old false friendship. 

Only thing difficult to determine is just who was the falser friend, Thailand or the US?

[spidermike007]

Recommendations. 

1. Acknowledge that Thailand is not the center of the known universe. 

 

2. Admit that Thailand occasionally needs outside help. 

 

3. Admit that other nations are important. Behave as such. 

 

4. Follow international law. Abide by the ASEAN charters that you sign. 

 

5. Work toward a democracy. And establish some sort of semi-respectsble law and order. 

 

6. Stop behaving like goons, and let your people show disapproval and disagreement. What are you guys so afraid of? 

 

7. Show some regard and respect toward your ex-pat residents, like many other nations do to your own, living overseas. 

[zzaa09]

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Recommendations. 

1. Acknowledge that Thailand is not the center of the known universe. 

 

2. Admit that Thailand occasionally needs outside help. 

 

3. Admit that other nations are important. Behave as such. 

 

4. Follow international law. Abide by the ASEAN charters that you sign. 

 

5. Work toward a democracy. And establish some sort of semi-respectsble law and order. 

 

6. Stop behaving like goons, and let your people show disapproval and disagreement. What are you guys so afraid of? 

 

7. Show some regard and respect toward your ex-pat residents, like many other nations do to your own, living overseas. 

International Law.

Whatever that is.

????

[Albaby]

8 hours ago, AnnaBanana said:

Diplomatic advice from Australia?

   The Land of Poodles.

The only country in Asia not kissing China's butt.

[VillageIdiot]

Let Thaland be what it naturally is - warts and all.

   Farangs aren't too high on the totem pole here these days.

   We don't even qualify as guests... I wasn't invited, were you?

   We're more like party-crashers who have arrived thirty years too late and found  "...a banquet hall deserted, whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, and all but he departed."

[zzaa09]

10 minutes ago, Albaby said:

The only country in Asia not kissing China's butt.

Not really.

More of a hidden kiss, ain't it?