Less than a week after the China-Thailand meeting, Thailand has announced a major news: King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand will visit China, which is the first time in history. Such a rare diplomatic move cannot help but draw attention to the purpose of the King's visit.

King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand

Recently, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand will make a state visit to China from November 13 for five days, which is rare. It has been 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, and this is the first time that the King of Thailand has personally visited China. It is also the first visit of Vajiralongkorn to a major country after his ascension to the throne in 2016, and it carries significant meaning.

To understand the weight of the King's visit to China, one must clearly see the special role of the King. Unlike general constitutional monarchies, the King of Thailand is the supreme commander of the three military branches and holds real power. Due to frequent military coups in the country's history, the King rarely leaves the country. This "exception" choosing China is equivalent to Thailand sending a signal at the highest level, indicating that the relationship with China is its diplomatic "anchor."

More importantly, less than a week ago, Thai Prime Minister Anutin just concluded a meeting with China at the APEC Summit, and both sides finalized the cooperation blueprint for 2026. The rare rhythm of "the prime minister paving the way, the king setting the tone" is not accidental. The purpose of the King's visit has become the focus of international attention. As for the purpose, it may be glimpsed from the dialogue between Anutin and China.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin

According to Thai media reports, during the meeting with China, Prime Minister Anutin assured that he would oppose the legalization of casinos in Thailand. Previously, former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn continued to push forward the policy of legalizing casinos despite concerns, leading to a continued decline in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand. Combined with issues like "fraud," safety problems have caused the tourism industry to face a "winter."

Not only has the economy suffered, but Thai politics have also been unstable recently. First, there was a clash between Thailand and Cambodia, causing border unrest and trade disruptions. Then, former Prime Minister Paetongtarn was involved in the "phone scandal" and was forced to resign. After a new prime minister took office, the border situation was controlled, but electronic fraudsters from Myanmar fled to Thailand, becoming a headache.

Former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn visiting China

In summary, Thailand is currently in a difficult situation. Taking advantage of the good opportunity of the 50th anniversary of Sino-Thai diplomatic relations, the King himself is taking action, with a heavy mission. On one hand, Thailand's economy now needs a strong injection, and China is the best partner. The 2025 joint statement between China and Thailand shows that China and Thailand have already started enterprise coordination in areas such as semiconductors and electric vehicles. The King's visit is likely to finalize two key projects, one being the loan agreement for the second phase of the China-Thailand railway, and the other being the expansion of agricultural product exports.

Certainly, the issue of tourism is also a top priority. In addition, the problem of telecom fraud on the Thai-Myanmar border has put considerable pressure on Thailand. The joint statement explicitly proposed the establishment of a "China-Thailand Joint Center to Combat Telecommunications Fraud," and the King's personal promotion means that the military will be deeply involved. Most importantly, this aligns with Thailand's "big power diplomacy balance policy."

Thai police at the Thai-Myanmar border

Thailand is a military ally of the United States on one side and an economic partner of China on the other. For a long time, it has been seeking a balance between China and Western countries. Recently, interactions between the US and Cambodia have been frequent. At this time, Thailand is trying to get closer to China, partly to use China to develop the economy and enhance its voice in ASEAN, and partly to gain leverage in its own confrontation with the West.

For China, maintaining good relations with ASEAN countries not only serves China's economic interests but also ensures China's geopolitical security to some extent. "Sino-Thai family" should not be just diplomatic rhetoric, but should be reflected in every cooperation project. This is beneficial for both China and Thailand.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7569850674217746980/

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