'Bamboo Stuck in the Chinese Wind': The Continuing Significance of the China Factor in Thailand's Foreign Policy Orientation

This research article examines how domestic politics has affected Thailand's engagement with the United States and China since the 2014 military coup. It argues that Thai conservative elites, primarily the military, perceive the United States as a threat to their political legitimacy because of Washington's emphasis on human rights and democracy. In contrast, they appreciate Beijing's commitment to noninterference while increased economic ties with China strengthen their domestic legitimacy. Although Thailand's foreign policy underwent an adjustment following the 2019 general elections, with Bangkok and Washington reaffirming their security ties, Thai policymakers continue to perceive China as a more dependable partner and think they must reassure Beijing that they are not aligned with the alleged US goal of containing China. Keywords: Thai domestic politics, foreign policy, great power competition, US-Thai relations, Sino-Thai relations.
According to Arne Kislenko, Thai diplomacy is 'always solidly rooted, but flexible enough to be whichever way the wind blows to survive'. (1) Hence the moniker 'bamboo diplomacy'. Through such [...]