Thailand urged to balance China ties against its values, sovereignty

Bangkok may now need to learn to live with China, benefiting from its advanced technologies while protecting its values and not being taken advantage of, said Fuadi Pitsuwan, a lecturer in International Relations at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science.

He also pointed out that China must, likewise, learn to live with Thailand.

He said there is a growing consensus among younger academics that Thailand can no longer rely on the United States in the way it once did, as Washington has undermined its own credibility under the Trump administration and its reliability as a long-term ally has weakened.

When his family bought an electric vehicle made in China, he told them, “Do you know that, because we are using Chinese products, the car factory in Rayong has to shut down?”

When he later drove the car himself, however, he said he was amazed by how advanced the technology was. That was when he told himself that he may have to live with China.

Fuadi was speaking at Policy Watch Connect 2026, hosted by Thai PBS on the theme of “Thailand’s Strategic Compass: Foreign Policy and Security Directives for the Next Administration.”

Fuadi warned, though, that the key challenge in living with China is how Thailand can benefit from Chinese technology without being exploited, particularly as cheap Chinese imports risk damaging Thai small and medium-sized enterprises.

He argued that Thailand must push for genuine technology transfer and deeper integration into production chains, rather than simply hosting Chinese factories that rely on Chinese-owned suppliers.

Joint ventures with Thai firms and serious localisation of technology are essential if Thailand is to build its own industrial capacity.

Fuadi noted that Thailand faced similar concerns when Japan first became a major investor decades ago.

At the time, Japanese companies were criticised as “economic animals”, yet Thailand eventually succeeded in building joint ventures and local supply chains, turning Japan into one of its closest economic partners.

He said the question now is whether Thailand can repeat this success with China.

Beyond economics, Fuadi stressed that Thailand must also safeguard its values and sovereignty.

He cited an incident at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, where Chinese officials reportedly intervened to stop a discussion and exhibition related to Taiwan and Hong Kong, which he described as an unacceptable infringement on Thailand’s sovereignty.

“This is not only about money, but also about values,” he said. “We must protect our national interests in every dimension.”

Fuadi concluded that Thailand’s future relationship with China must be based on mutual respect. Just as Thailand must learn to adapt to China’s rise, China must also learn to respect Thailand’s independence, interests and values.

Speaking at the same forum, veteran journalist and media personality Karuna Buakamsri said Thai government agencies already have comprehensive information on how global actors, such as China, Russia, the United States, Cambodia and Vietnam, are thinking.

“What we need is to consolidate all this into a coherent foreign policy strategy, so that we can respond effectively to global issues and threats,” she said.

She also noted that Thailand is at its most significant turning point in 80 years. The most important indicator, she said, was the release of a new US National Security Strategy on December 5th, which suggests that the post-Cold War global order has likely come to an end.

“The world ahead may be a disorderly one, a world in which those with power can do as they please. So, what should Thailand do? This is something we must think through together,” she said.

Looking back, Karuna said Thailand once managed international challenges skillfully. During the early Cold War, Thailand aligned with the United States to counter communism, but later adjusted by opening relations with China after the Sino-Soviet split.

“This flexible diplomacy allowed Thailand to navigate regional crises. At that time, Thai diplomacy had a clear direction and was understandable, even to ordinary people,” she said.

After the Cold War, Thailand adopted the idea of turning battlefields into marketplaces, which summed up its diplomatic approach for decades.

With the return of traditional warfare and the rise of cyber conflicts, she said that Thailand must now pursue clear, proactive and preventive diplomacy that plans and acts in advance.

She added that the current crisis can be turned into an opportunity, noting that Thailand still has capable institutions, including the military, while the media and public must also play a role.