Bangkok, Thailand, recently hosted a successful impromptu meeting between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Experts believe this affirms Thailand's position, and that of ASEAN in general, in pursuing an independent foreign policy.
The competition between the two superpowers, the United States and China, has intensified in recent years in economic, security, and military spheres . According to Benjamin Zawacki, author of "Thailand: Shifting Ground Between the US and Rising China," this meeting illustrates how both Washington and Beijing view Thailand's role.
During their meeting in Thailand, Sullivan and Wang Yi discussed a range of geopolitical issues including Iran, clashes around the Red Sea, Taiwan Strait security, Myanmar, North Korea, and the situation in the South China Sea. Both pledged to stay in contact on sensitive topics. Further talks have also been planned. Accordingly, US President Joe Biden is expected to have a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the spring, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Beijing in the coming months.
For Thai officials, beyond the outcome of the meeting, this can be seen as a major geopolitical victory and a reaffirmation of Thailand's policy of neutrality, and that of ASEAN in general, based on the principle of being a friend to all countries and no enemy. For the new Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, the presence of a high-ranking US official in Bangkok can be seen as a warming of relations between Washington and Bangkok after a long period of coolness. Before Srettha Thavisin was elected Prime Minister, Washington reduced security cooperation and withdrew millions of dollars in military aid to Thailand. After Srettha became prime minister, relations improved enough to allow the Thai Prime Minister to briefly meet with US President Biden at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2023. Prior to the talks in Bangkok with Wang Yi, Sullivan met with the host Prime Minister Srettha and several members of Srettha's cabinet.
Like many other ASEAN members, Thailand now enjoys good relations with both the United States and China. China is Thailand's largest trading partner, with trade reaching US$135 billion in 2023. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese citizens accounted for approximately 11 million of the record 39 million international tourists who visited Thailand in 2019. During a visit to Bangkok, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Thai counterpart Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara signed an agreement to waive visa requirements, making it easier for citizens of Thailand and China to travel to each other's countries.
According to analysts, in recent years, countries in the region have witnessed a deteriorating relationship between the world's two most powerful nations, causing considerable concern. For ASEAN, it would be better if the US-China competition were healthy. Therefore, the aforementioned meeting and many upcoming high-level US-China meetings give Southeast Asia hope that the two superpowers will continue dialogue instead of confrontation.
KHANH MINH
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