Striking a right balance in its relationship with the US and China whose ongoing geopolitical rivalry is rattling the world will be a major policy challenge for Thailand’s new administration, according to top politicians contending in the upcoming general election.
There is also a consensus among them that Thailand must not choose sides given the close ties it has with both superpowers.
“Both countries have been Thailand’s good friends all along. Both are important to Thailand historically and economically. Therefore, we need to maintain our friendship with both,” said Korn Chatikavanij , leader of Chartpattanakla Party and its prime minister candidate.
“Most importantly, we must not take sides. There is simply no reason for Thailand to choose one or the other,” said Korn, one of the leading politicians interviewed by Thai PBS World on foreign policy issues.
His view is shared by Uttama Savanayana, chairman of Palang Pracharath Party’s policy committee, who wants to see Thailand with a clear foreign affairs strategy.
“If our strategy is clear, we will be able to take appropriate position based on Thailand’s interest when major issues arise on the world stage,” he said.
“It also means that Thailand will not allow itself to be pushed by other countries to take certain stand,” added Uttama whose party is seen as a potential key player in the post-election scenario.
But he admitted that managing a balanced relationship with the two superpowers without being seen as taking sides will be a major policy challenge for the future administration.
Kiat Sittheeamorn, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Democrat Party, said Thailand needs to stand up to major countries when its interest is at stake.
“There are international treaties and accords that Thailand can fall back on in conducting its foreign policy without having to succumb to pressure from major countries,” said Kiat, Thailand’s trade representative during the Abhisit government.
“What I want to stress is that Thailand can be friend with all countries with dignity no matter how powerful these countries are. The world has changed and gone are the days when we were always silently at the receiving end of things,” he said.
Kiat pointed out that even the US and China also need to be challenged if their action or policy affect the interest of Thailand and other countries in the region.
“The US needs to be reminded that if the objective of its Indo-Pacific strategy is to contain China, it should not expect an endorsement by countries in the region,” he said.
And as far as China is concerned, its Belt and Road Initiative should not be seen as exclusively a Chinese endeavor, according to Kiat. “China must demonstrate that it intends to make it a regional initiative if it wants full participation from countries in the region,” he said.
Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Security Advisory Committee, also wants to see the next administration maintain a balance in its relationship with the two superpowers.
“The world should not be polarized as it is. Ideally, we should have a multi-polar world where countries like Thailand can stay in the middle without having to take sides,” he said.
Closer to home, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar is likely to continue to be another major foreign policy challenge for the next administration.
Kiat of the Democrat Party is against more sanctions against the military regime in Thailand’s neighbouring country. “Sanctions do not solve problems because those who suffer the most are ordinary people,” he said and urged Thailand and Myanmar’s other neighbours to convince countries which have influence over the regime in Naypyidaw to play a more active role in ending the crisis.
“If we don’t bring countries like China into the picture, it would be difficult to see peace in Myanmar,” he said.
Dr Panitan, meanwhile, proposed that the new administration in Bangkok make greater efforts to initiate a dialogue to end violence in Myanarm before the situation escalates into a full-blown civil war.
He proposed a dialogue forum similar to the informal meetings hosted by Indonesia which played a key role in ending the conflicts in Cambodia following the Vietnamese invasion in 1979.
By Thepchai Yong
