Thailand is at risk of becoming overly reliant on ‘big brother’ China: Commentary

[webfact]

BANGKOK: Since the beginning of his term as Thailand’s Prime Minister in August, Srettha Thavisin has actively worked to strengthen relations with China. One of his early key meetings was with the Chinese ambassador, establishing the groundwork for subsequent diplomatic engagements to bring the two nations closer.

 

An important and symbolic gesture in strengthening those ties was the introduction of visa-free entry for Chinese visitors to Thailand in September. Mr Srettha personally welcomed the first batch of Chinese visitors, underlining the significance of this group of travellers to Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy.

 

Earlier this month, Mr Srettha made an official visit to China, where he also attended the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. That it was his first official visit outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) further demonstrates the importance the new Pheu Thai government attaches to Thailand-China relations. Mr Srettha also invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Thailand.

 

Full story: CNA 2023-10-30

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[2baht]

Bow to the Emperor (Xi)! 

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, 2baht said:

Bow to the Emperor (Xi)! 

One way or another the little guys bow to one emperor or another, 'ties the way of the world I am afraid.

Who is a better boss or worst is a matter of perspective. 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Pheu Thai (and MFP) will take Thailand back to its pre-Junta stance of being neutral between China and USA and Japan and Europe. The Junta basically made Thailand a subservient supporter of the Chinese expansions in SEAsia (Belt and Road etc) in return for Tourists. 

[Irish star]

New PM is a Lapdog to putin Xi and Thaskin 

[ignore it]

Mute point.

Too late already.

[Will B Good]

Being/becoming over reliant on China is China's number one aim ......then Thailand just becomes another whipping boy........but surely every Thai can see that?

[spidermike007]

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. In other words take our money and forever be in our debt, and show us the kind of fealty that we deserve, because we are rulers of the world. 

 

Xi is a despot dictator and becoming more dependent on China is an enormous mistake. Sretta is showing us day by day, why he was the wrong choice as a leader. 

[Sydebolle]

Trying to snuggle in between Cambodia and Laos now? 

[dinsdale]

Not sure about the tense used here. Is becoming or has become. The "pandemic' showed just how many countries were the same. Many said they would stop this dependence but are crawling back. I said many years ago, many years before the pandemic that China the CCP is the most dangerous political organisation in the world. When the sht happens and it will Thailand better know what side they are going to be on. There will be no neutrality in this region.  

Edited October 30, 2023 by dinsdale

[Photoguy21]

Have to be careful of China. They move slowly but one day you wake up and the country is part of China.

[mokwit]

Thailand is not going to be given a choice in this.

[mokwit]

4 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Pheu Thai (and MFP) will take Thailand back to its pre-Junta stance of being neutral between China and USA and Japan and Europe. The Junta basically made Thailand a subservient supporter of the Chinese expansions in SEAsia (Belt and Road etc) in return for Tourists. 

Thailand won't be allowed to play one off against the other, nor will it be allowed to try to be neutral.

[mokwit]

23 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Have to be careful of China. They move slowly but one day you wake up and the country is part of China.

'Death by a thousand cuts' is a very difficult strategy to counter.

[Photoguy21]

Just now, mokwit said:

'Death by a thousand cuts' is a very difficult strategy to counter.

Agreed but not impossible if you can accept the path you are being led down.

[mokwit]

6 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Agreed but not impossible if you can accept the path you are being led down.

"oh, but don't you trust us?"

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, 2baht said:

Bow to the Emperor (Xi)! 

Thailand welcomes cash... the flag bearer is immaterial.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, 2baht said:

Bow to the Emperor (Xi)! 

Hi Xi.....

[2baht]

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

but surely every Thai can see that?

     .......what's for dinner?

[retarius]

Seems to me that you either you try to chart a course between the two powers as Thailand did in the Colonial days, seemingly successfully. Alternatively you could pick one. No one ever got rich by being a US vassal. China is going to be the wealthiest nation under to sun by the end of this century. They seem to have a much more benign approach to weaker states than the rape and pillage and coercion of the neo-colonialist US, who are even screwing their friends now blowing up pipelines to weaken Germany for instance and dragging the world to war for their own profit all the time. Personally I'd get closer to China. 

[zzaa09]

Well.....could be worse.

Reliant on the much more evil West [the real boogiemen] comes to mind. 

 

 

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see Thailand going the way of a BRICS union in the very immediate future. 

Much more beneficial than the alternative. 

[Purdey]

Many of the people high up in Thailand are descended from Chinese, so they have some affection for "the old country" through rose tinted glasses.

Mind you, the American GIs promoted a thriving prostitution industry so fair's fair. 

[BayArea]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Many of the people high up in Thailand are descended from Chinese, so they have some affection for "the old country" through rose tinted glasses.

Mind you, the American GIs promoted a thriving prostitution industry so fair's fair. 

It's more than just the " higher ups". The royal family also has Chinese blood,  the hi so cliques, government officials,  all the so-called Thai billionaires, actors / movie stars, and of course the 11 million citizens of Chinese decent and the countless mixed Chinese/Thai who reside in the country.  Essentially,  Thailand is already a Chinese province. They won't even blink if the Chinese were installed tomorrow as their masters. 

[Photoguy21]

21 hours ago, mokwit said:

"oh, but don't you trust us?"

No I dont