Ran into a Thai acquaintance from Bangkok at a local pub that runs a chemical firm and as usual we got into politics. I asked him why there is so much attention on passports and foreigners at the moment and he responded that the recent powers in charge have decided that the only country that matters is China. Lots of whiskey was involved, but he claims that tourists or expats are not important anymore, and that is why the new railroad bypasses Chiang Mai. His view is that Thailand's current keepers have decided that China will need food and Thailand will provide it. Wondering if others agree that Thailand's future prosperity is tied to a single country. Some seem to think so.

What chemical does the pub put into the drinks, T_Dog?

Thailand's future ought to be tied first to ASEAN, and then, perhaps, to China. Certainly China will provide a larger and larger proportion of the tourists. But no country should put all its eggs into one basket.

Thailand's future ought to be tied first to ASEAN, and then, perhaps, to China. Certainly China will provide a larger and larger proportion of the tourists. But no country should put all its eggs into one basket.

Ought, yes. However, Thailand isn't too keen on its neighbours. It hates the Burmese thanks to the wars in the 1700s. It looks down on the Khmer as stupid and primitive. The Lao are so poor as to be contemptible. And as for the Malays, well, it just doesn't like them. Fortunately, the Malay border is a long, long way from Bangkok so can be ignored.

In contrast, some 14% of the Thai population identifies themselves as Thai-Chinese, and close on 40% have some Chinese ancestry. And the Thai-Chinese are disproportionately represented amongst the richest and most powerful in society.

China is a much more natural ally for Thailand than any of the ASEAN countries.

Give it a century or two and Thailand could well become another Tibet.

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development. Regarding all the countries around Thailand, China is certainly the biggest dog in the neighborhood.

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development.

Pray tell more. All I can think of offhand is that China was a major trading partner in the Ayutthaya era, plus Chinese military support during the wars with the Burmese.

I suspect that the mass migration from China in the late 1800s/early 1900s has had a greater impact upon the country than offshore Chinese.

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development.

Pray tell more. All I can think of offhand is that China was a major trading partner in the Ayutthaya era, plus Chinese military support during the wars with the Burmese.

I suspect that the mass migration from China in the late 1800s/early 1900s has had a greater impact upon the country than offshore Chinese.

That's probably so, but the book I read focused mainly on the way money moved between China, Hong Kong, and Thailand during the early opium days. It was big business back then. Wish I could remember the name of the text as it was a fascinating read.

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development.

Pray tell more. All I can think of offhand is that China was a major trading partner in the Ayutthaya era, plus Chinese military support during the wars with the Burmese.

I suspect that the mass migration from China in the late 1800s/early 1900s has had a greater impact upon the country than offshore Chinese.

That's probably so, but the book I read focused mainly on the way money moved between China, Hong Kong, and Thailand during the early opium days. It was big business back then. Wish I could remember the name of the text as it was a fascinating read.

Possibly "Opium: Uncovering the Politics of the Poppy" by Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy? If so, I'll get a copy. Sounds fascinating.

The Chinese money which came into Hong Kong and the countries of SEAsia in 1948 came largely from Shanghai, and from the south-eastern provinces of Fukien and Kwangtung. Many of the earlier immigrants from whom the big Chinese families are descended were Teochew (also Fukien province). None of these people had any love for the Communist regime, even in its present form.

Nevertheless, money is more important to the Chinese than politics, and the Chinese money will go where there is more money to be made.

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development. Regarding all the countries around Thailand, China is certainly the biggest dog in the neighborhood...

...and will remain the biggest dog!

Thailand continues to diplomatically manage foreign powers that have their eyes on Thailand. Thailand is currently managing the Regional String of Pearls strategy that the US is trying to encircle China with, and Chinese overtures of trade, etc. Thailand, in my opinion, has pursued this diplomatically strategy quite well. By moving gently further within China's economic orbit Thailand sends a strong signal to the US that its nanny interfering will not be tolerated and that it needs to bring more to the table than reliance on our old mutual friendship.

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development. Regarding all the countries around Thailand, China is certainly the biggest dog in the neighborhood...

...and will remain the biggest dog!

It will indeed! This is how China has traditionally liked things.... China (the Middle Kingdom) as the centre of the world, and a host of tributaries round it.

As the American period of hegemony wanes, and Europe's eyes are turned to the Middle East, Russia screws up its own hinterland, and Japan dithers into senescence...... I don't know quite where this sentence was going, but China seems to be on the up and up!

I read a book a while back about the offshore Chinese and their role in Thailand's development early on in the country's development. Regarding all the countries around Thailand, China is certainly the biggest dog in the neighborhood...

...and will remain the biggest dog!

It will indeed! This is how China has traditionally liked things.... China (the Middle Kingdom) as the centre of the world, and a host of tributaries round it.

As the American period of hegemony wanes, and Europe's eyes are turned to the Middle East, Russia screws up its own hinterland, and Japan dithers into senescence...... I don't know quite where this sentence was going, but China seems to be on the up and up!

Ha! Don't worry. We follow you. Great sentence, by the way. Your correct!

Thailand continues to diplomatically manage foreign powers that have their eyes on Thailand. Thailand is currently managing the Regional String of Pearls strategy that the US is trying to encircle China with, and Chinese overtures of trade, etc. Thailand, in my opinion, has pursued this diplomatically strategy quite well. By moving gently further within China's economic orbit Thailand sends a strong signal to the US that its nanny interfering will not be tolerated and that it needs to bring more to the table than reliance on our old mutual friendship.

I think you are completely correct, especially your last sentence which implies that Thailand can try and play two hands, one against the other. Either way, they get the a pot.

Notwithstanding that all the countries mentioned will drop Thailand like a leprous potato if it gets too hot. Front lines can be drawn either side of Thailand, and Thailand doesn't want front lines drawn on either side

SC