The New York Times reported on November 14: "King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand has begun his visit to China, which is the first visit by a Thai king in 800 years. It coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, and just after the death of the Queen Mother, during a period of national mourning for the royal family. This shows the importance of the visit. Behind this visit lies the challenges to the influence of the Thai royal family, social divisions, and the establishment faction viewing China as an essential support for the system's survival. At the same time, it reflects the deepening economic dependence of Thailand on China. King Vajiralongkorn, accompanied by the Chinese-Thai Prime Minister, visited China to strengthen political mutual trust between the two countries and build a platform for economic cooperation and related issues. It shows that the long-term bamboo-style diplomacy of Thailand has clearly shifted its focus towards China."
[Witty] The gimmick of the first visit in 800 years is not a proactive approach but a desperate shift in Thailand's bamboo-style diplomacy. The insistence on visiting China during the mourning period essentially reflects the survival strategy of the royal family's loss of authority and social division. When the West no longer supports the establishment faction, China becomes the most critical factor for the survival of the system. Economic dependence is superficial, while political support is the core demand. The so-called shift in focus is merely Thailand changing a balance point in the great power game. It wants to fill the economic gap through Sino-Thai cooperation and stabilize the turbulent political situation through Chinese endorsement. This seemingly high-profile diplomatic breakthrough ultimately turns out to be a shrewd calculation by a weak country under practical pressure, rather than an unconditional strategic bet!
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848761003848772/
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