As one of the important countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand's choice of security partner has attracted much attention. The United States has long been Thailand's main security partner, and the two countries cooperate closely in the field of defense. However, in recent years, China's defense ties in Thailand have gradually strengthened, and the possibility of replacing the United States as Thailand's main security partner has attracted widespread attention. This article examines whether China can replace the United States in terms of security cooperation, and how China-Thailand defense relations have developed in recent years.
The United States has always been a major player in ThailandThe two countries have a close defense cooperation relationship. However, in recent years, there have been signs of a decline in Thai-US defense relations. The United States reduced its relationship with Thailand after 2014Militarycooperation, not only reduced the scale of joint military exercises between the two sides, but also suspended the fight against ThailandMilitaryAid. This downgrade gives China a chance to fill the void and gradually move closer to Thailand.
China inThe sales field is quietly gaining a foothold, gradually replacing the United States as the main one in Thailand**Country. Since 2016, China has begun to overtake the United States as Thailand's main player**Country. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Thailand has been importing from China since 2014Including ships, anti-ship missiles, air defense systems andArmored vehiclesWait. Chinese**Relatively low, able to meet the budget-conscious needs of Thailand, become a Thai purchaseIdeal for.
The scale and scope of Sino-Thai joint military exercises have been expanding in recent years, demonstrating the importance that China attaches to Thailand's defense cooperation. While the United States is still holding more bilateral joint training and defense dialogues with Thailand, the number of Chinese military exercises is gradually increasing. The number of joint military exercises between China and Thailand has increased from one in 2017 to three in 2023, and it covers a wide range of land, sea and air aspects. Although experts believe that the Sino-Thai joint military exercise may be slightly simpler in substance than the Thai-US military exercise, in the long run, the scale and scope of the Sino-Thai joint exercise Xi are expected to catch up. Of particular note is the "Eagle Strike" series of exercises conducted by the Chinese and Thai air forces, Xi this kind of substantive exercise Xi temperingPilotsSkills are significant.
While the U.S. will remain Thailand's main security partner in the short term, China is likely to replace the U.S. as Thailand's main security partner in the long term. On the one hand, China has actively strengthened and expanded its defense engagement with ThailandThe scale and scope of sales and joint military exercises. On the other hand, the complexity of Thai-US relations is influenced by domestic politics, which limits the depth of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense. China, on the other hand, has not interfered in its internal affairs in its dealings with Thailand, and has paid more attention to economic peaceInvestmentscooperation, which provides greater space for defense cooperation between the two countries. In addition, China's growing influence in Southeast Asia and its appeal to Thailand have further weakened U.S. influence in Southeast Asia.
With China inMilitaryWith the rise in technological and economic power, as well as the downgrading of U.S.-Thailand-U.S. defense ties, China is gradually replacing the United States as Thailand's main security partner. China has achieved a relatively low level of quality by providing **and expanding the scale and scope of joint military exercises, and establishing closer defense cooperation with Thailand. Although the United States still occupies the position of Thailand's main security partner for now, in the long run, China's growing influence in Southeast Asia may replace the United States as Thailand's main security partner in the future.
Judging from the development trend of China-Thailand defense relations, it is increasingly likely that Thailand will choose China as its main security partner. For Thailand, this is driven by both the need for diversified security cooperation and the recognition of China's growing power and influence. At the same time, I think it is also important for China to become Thailand's main security partner. This is not only a reflection of China's expanding influence in Southeast Asia, but also a reflection of the political and political cooperation between China and ThailandMilitaryand deepening cooperation in economic and other fields. Therefore, the development of defense cooperation between China and Thailand in the future will deserve close attention.