From Overseas Press

Thai-China relations: a friendship now not so special

(The Nation)
Updated: 2010-06-28 14:17

Durian and over 100 bottles of Singha beer were the two most important non-diplomatic items that the Thai delegates took with them to Peking (now Beijing) for the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on July 1, 1975. Over there, imported beer was rare and imported "king of fruits" was unheard of. On the table, these were used to celebrate the beginning of their diplomatic relations, which will celebrate 35 years on Thursday. However, for the next 35 years, for Thai-China relationship to prosper, more would be needed than just beer and a stinky fruit!

Indeed, too much has been said about the longstanding ties between the two peoples and nations, especially by the government and the private sector. It has become a cliché. The highlight of Thai-Chinese relations in recent years has been mostly non-political and security cooperation. Numerous trips by HRH Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to various parts of China have inevitably become the foundation of these relations. These trips have dominated the news in Thailand for over three decades. It is not surprising that her unprecedented record of more than three dozen trips as well as her knowledge of pou-thong hua (standard Chinese) has been repeatedly cited by Thai and Chinese officials as the barometer of how deep and strong Thai-China relations are.

These days, thousands of years of amiable history and cultural ties would amount to nothing if China commented, like the US did, on the recent Thai political crisis. Vice versa, if Thailand commented on the riots in Tibet or in Urumqi, Xinjiang like other Western countries. Ancient ties are rendered meaningless in the age of globalisation where national interests are being accessed and sorted out minute by minute, item by item, with money and security values topping the list. But when bilateral ties are excellent, old ties would certainly make the whole relationship holistic and healthier.

To make Thai-Chinese ties really meaningful, there is an urgent need on both sides to recalibrate their friendship and future strategic values. China is no longer the backward and poor country we used to know. It has different sets of national interest. With its global status and outreach, we need to understand China rather than the other way round.

At present, Beijing does not need a conduit to help ease the world's fastest growing economy into the Southeast Asian region-something which Thailand was so proud of doing throughout the 1980s when China did not have ties with Asean. We used to open the door for China to make its first inroad southward to continental Southeast Asia. Now, China can take several roads at once to the region.

China's unwavering support of Thailand and Asean during the Cambodian conflict (1979-1992), is well-documented. Those were the heydays of China's regional role. But to expect a similar response and the same level of enthusiasm from China's diplomacy today would be insane. Today, China has reached out to all Southeast Asian countries. Thai-China relations are no more special than Beijing's ties are with Phnom Penh, Rangoon and Vientiane. Of late, their significance and quality has in fact eroded.