Thailand Sidelines the US and Goes to Beijing. Geopolitical Implications for a Declining West
| By Peter Koenig Global Research, December 01, 2025 |
| It is a pleasant sight to see how in Asia, a (former?) military ally of the United States, Thailand, shifts away from Washington and goes to Beijing – literally. On 14 November 2025, the Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn had embarked on a five-day historic state visit to Beijing. This is not a common event as Thai monarchs do not often practice State visits. They usually stay home and let their Foreign Ministries maintain diplomatic relations with their partners. This is the first Royal state visit to Beijing since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China some 50 years ago. As a logical conclusion, this is a strong signal to the Thai elite and people, as well as to the rest of the world, that Thailand is initiating a major geopolitical shift in her relations with superpowers – from Washington to Beijing. This diplomatic move of Thailand may be indicating more than meets the eye, namely a general tendency of South Asia – if not of the Global South – to strengthen its relations with China, in a peaceful cooperation rather than the classical carrot-and-stick approach, dependent on the western sanction-prone dollar-economy, dominated by the US and closely followed by Washington’s European vassals. Such a move may have been exacerbated by President Trump’s dystopian tariff war, mainly against China, but by association with the rest of the world including Thailand. Today, the US is Thailand’s third largest trading partner, with roughly US$ 80 billion two-way trade in 2022. Compare this with Thailand’s economic relationship with China, Thailand’s largest trading partner, characterized by strong and growing commercial relations and reciprocal investments. China is Thailand’s largest partner and major source of foreign investment. In 2023, bilateral trade reached approximately $126.3 billion. King Vajiralongkorn’s decision to embrace China is of special importance, given his long personal ties to the West. He attended private schools in Egland and received military education from Australia’s Royal Military College. The king’s reorientation to the East stands in contrast with that of his father’s, King Bhumibol Abdulyadej, whose 70-year reign was defined by deep engagement with the US. Thailand’s close relation with Beijing is underlined by the king’s daughter, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who studied in China and has visited the northern neighbor more than 50 times. In fact, she was honored with China’s Friendship Medal which is a sign of longstanding cultural and educational ties beneath the political surface. |
China-US trade war yields unprecedented Asian partnership
The Thai king’s historic visit to Beijing signals Bangkok’s deeper embrace of Thailand’s northern neighbor in a shifting global order
| Thailand’s relationship with China has entered a new and symbolically powerful phase with King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s historic five-day state visit to Beijing in mid-November – the first by a reigning Thai monarch since the establishment of diplomatic relations fifty years ago. It is also only the second time Vajiralongkorn has undertaken an official foreign trip as king, following his visit to Bhutan earlier this year. This rare deployment of monarchical diplomacy marks a watershed moment, not only for China-Thailand ties but also for Southeast Asia’s strategic posture in an increasingly multipolar world. Royal visits in Thailand are not routine foreign engagements; they are deliberate, high-prestige instruments whose political weight extends far beyond the ceremonial. By choosing China as his first major state destination, King Vajiralongkorn is sending a strong signal to Thai elites, business leaders, investors, and the broader public that Beijing now stands at the apex of Thailand’s external partnerships. His presence has allowed the Thai government to pursue major economic and diplomatic initiatives under the neutral, non-partisan, and respected cover of the monarchy – a significant advantage in a political system that frequently experiences rapid changes of government. For China, hosting a reigning Thai monarch offers rare diplomatic symbolism and reinforces Beijing’s narrative that it has become an indispensable partner for ASEAN states and a stabilizing force in the region. The timing is also noteworthy: as great-power competition intensifies across Southeast Asia, Thailand’s gesture demonstrates that it is open to deeper engagement with China while maintaining a careful balancing act between Beijing and Washington. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations[e] (ASEAN)[f] is a regional grouping of all 11 states in Southeast Asia, which aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its members.[15] Together, its member states represent a population of more than 600 million people and a land area of over 4.5 million km2 (1.7 million sq mi).[16] The bloc generated a purchasing power parity (PPP) gross domestic product (GDP) of around US$10.2 trillion in 2022, constituting approximately 6.5% of global GDP (PPP).[11] ASEAN member states include some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and the institution plays an integral role in East Asian regionalism.[17] |
